FC Barcelona has possessed some of the greatest attacking talents that the world has ever seen. The likes of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Neymar Jr, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Luis Suarez are just a few of the many legends that have donned the Blaugrana colors.
However, every global icon starts their journey with humble beginnings. Messi, for instance, was a product of La Masia itself. Hailing from the academy of FC Barcelona, the Argentine overcame a rocky journey to climb to the very top of the Blaugrana mountain.
Patience with young talent
Yet, it is only with patience that true gems can be unearthed. While Barcelona are currently stacked with talent in terms of their right-wingers, they are less fortunate in terms of their left-wingers.
There were two players during this year’s pre-season who could have remained at the club during the official season as specialist left-wingers. The two players in question are Spanish forward Ansu Fati and Moroccan winger Ez Abde. While Fati has temporarily been loaned out to Premier League side Brighton, Abde has been permanently transferred to Real Betis.
However, there is still a question that remains worth analyzing.
Ansu vs Abde
Who should Barcelona have given the chance to or should give the chance to in the future, Ansu Fati or Ez Abde?
Fati automatically returns to FC Barcelona in the summer of next year unless some new development takes place. Additionally, Abde has a buy-back option in his contract with Betis, leaving a chance for either or both the stars to return to Barcelona. However, which of the two deserves the chance more remains the question.
In terms of natural talent, neither of the two players are any slouches. Ansu Fati is a thorough and complete product of La Masia, while Abde arrived at Barcelona from Hercules in 2021. Both possess dynamic capabilities and the ability to unnerve their defenders when on the ball.
The Spanish Sensation
Fati was a particularly talented star prior to his onslaught of career-threatening injuries. Hailed as the ‘next big thing’, the Spaniard was so highly regarded that he was given the iconic number 10 jersey after the departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona.
While it may have seemed like a burden too big for many others, Fati wore it with pride. The young Spaniard possessed all the ability to leave his mark on football. However, the dream was not to last for too long. Injuries left the star scarred beyond just a physical level later on.
Unable to finish chances or take on opponents like he used to, Fati began to look hesitant. Typically, injuries can prove to be heavily detrimental to even the most experienced of veterans. Fati, on the other hand, was simply a young teenager beginning to make a name for himself.
This, consequently, pushed the player back down the hierarchy. Despite being given chances to prove himself once again, nothing came to be. Even as he showed glimpses of his former self, Fati was unable to reach sustained levels of his former quality.
The Moroccan Magician
On the other hand, Abde is seen as a product of raw footballing talent. His ability to drive the ball is arguably second to none. Able to produce mazy runs which can only be replicated by the very best, the Moroccan is a natural talent with the ball at his feet.
21 years old and already a proper international player, Abde remains highly valued. However, even raw talent can only get you so far. Loaned away to CA Osasuna last season where he began to once again show his quality, the Moroccan winger came back to Barcelona with his confidence ignited.
Yet, despite being given chances and showcasing promise, Abde showcased a clear weakness. His decision-making was something that would leave many quite frustrated. Often making the wrong choice of pass or even blocking the path of his own players, such as Alejandro Balde overlapping, Abde began to look too one-dimensional.
While he is undoubtedly talented, the footballing IQ in Abde’s game does not exactly fit in with Barcelona. To succeed at the Catalan club, you need more than just natural talent. A clear understanding of footballing basics and their most potent utilization are a few traits from among a galaxy of others that culminate into making a complete footballer.
Fati, in essence, is much more of a complete footballer than Abde has ever shown himself to be. While the Spaniard is certainly far from his best, it is the same player with a damaged confidence.
Ferran and Dembele, the mirrors
In a way, the two wingers can be reflected as mirror images of two other talented forwards. Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele are two such wingers who can showcase the difference between trusting Fati and Abde.
While ex-Barcelona winger Dembele is undoubtedly the more naturally gifted of the two stars, Ferran Torres is arguably the more effective player. With the French winger, style and explosiveness is what comes to fruition. On the other hand, the 23-year-old Spaniard is a much more capable instrument in terms of efficiency.
Similarly, Ferran Torres was also struggling with his finishing last season. The same issue continues to plague Ansu Fati. However, with mental improvement as well as physical development, Torres went on to become one of the most efficiently effective forwards in Europe at the beginning of this season.
The Reflection
Still making the same intelligent runs as last season, Ferran managed to add the final touch to his game; his finishing. For Fati, the problem is the same. He continues to showcase his footballing intellect without his previously proven elite finishing skills. However, once this issue is overcome completely, Ansu Fati is arguably among the best young players in the world.
On the contrary, Abde’s route seems much closer to that of Ousmane Dembele’s. Extreme wingers with the ability to unnerve, both are raw talented forwards. However, both the Frenchman and the Moroccan lack the awareness and adequate decision-making skills to thrive at a club like Barcelona.
Verdict
It took multiple seasons and several coaches for Barcelona to be able to understand Dembele. It was only Xavi’s insistence and tactical changes that allowed the winger to flourish as he did in his last full season. However, it was to be in vain as he left for Paris Saint-German this summer on rather bad terms.
To make the same mistake with Abde despite clear early indications would be self-injurious. Moreover, bringing Abde back would also be much more financially taxing than bringing back Fati.
In terms of faith, it would still be much better for Barcelona to bet on a proven star with confidence issues such as Ansu Fati than a raw talent like Abde who clearly lacks the positional functionality to participate as a key cog in the Blaugrana clockwork.
