Ansu Fati is Barcelona’s new leader but the club gave the player the No. 10 too soon - Inside Europe

ByFreddie Clayton

Updated 18/10/2021 at 14:43 GMT

Ansu Fati is just 18 years old but he is already being heralded as one of Barcelona´s most important players as the club enter one of the most difficult times in its recent history. With a huge week ahead, Barcelona have already overcome the first hurdle against Valencia, but now host Dynamo Kiev in their winless Champions League campaign, before taking on Real Madrid on Sunday.

This has been labelled a make-or-break week for Barca, with the side languishing in mid-table in La Liga, bottom of their Champions League group and forever in financial jeopardy.

But it was the best start possible as they beat Valencia 3-1 at the Nou Camp, with Ansu Fati at his brilliant best.

• Fati strikes as Barca fight back to beat Valencia
• Barca CEO claims club could have been dissolved after huge financial losses

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Ronald Koeman´s men host Dynamo Kiev in midweek, winless so far in the Champions League after consecutive 3-0 defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica.

They then go up against rivals Real Madrid in El Classico next Sunday.

But with the first hurdle out of the way, we caught up with Eurosport Spain´s Felix Martin in the middle of Barca´s biggest week, and to get the latest on the brilliant Fati and a potential new contract.

Ansu Fati scored as Barcelona fought back to beat Valencia

Image credit: Getty Images

Is this week make or break for Barcelona?

I'm not sure whether anything changed against Valencia, but it is obvious that Barça had three huge games this week. The first one was yesterday against Valencia, a very uncomfortable team to play against, and then on Wednesday against Dynamo Kiev, where their future will most likely be decided in the Champions League. And, finally, El Clásico next Sunday .

Is Fati already Barcelona's most important player?

Barça desperately needed a leader to show up and carry the team. And Fati's recovery is definitely great news for the club. He's quite an electric player - he is great when in one-on-one situations and a great dribbler. He has shown, at 18, after suffering severe injury and complications to his knee, that he's ready to be Barça's leader for the next 10 years. Ansu Fati and Pedri should be the two main pillars around which Barça should build their next sporting project.

• ´I am proud to wear number 10´ - Fati thrilled to take Lionel Messi´s jersey

Will he sign a new contract after negotiations stalled?

The contract extension hasn't been signed yet. From my point of view Barça's approach with Fati was mistaken when they gave him the number 10 (which is obviously a huge number in their history). It would have been better had Barça offered him a big contract extension AND the number 10, which would have confirmed him as the new team leader. This would have been a better approach given that Barça probably won't be able to give him a lot of money (this is just my opinion).

Also, Jorge Mendes is his agent, and although Ansu seems happy to stay in Barcelona, Mendes will probably try to get him as much money as possible.

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