FC Barcelona wingers Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati have had a difficult season at Camp Nou so far. With expectations high for the two Spanish internationals, Ferran because of his immense price tag in financially troubling times for the club, while injuries have hampered Fati’s growth after a stratospheric start to life at Camp Nou, shattering records left, right, and center.
Perhaps the pivotal point could have been the game against Getafe. With Ousmane Dembélé out with a long-term injury in late January, Xavi Hernandez chose to shift to a four-man midfield, with Gavi operating as a false winger on the left, while Raphinha established himself as the man for the job down the right flank, turning up with numbers to back his claim to the starting spot.
Raphinha’s rise meant Ferran’s fall as the Spain international started to diminish from the first-team picture, while Fati had already been reduced to a role coming off the bench since the start of the season.
Early April saw both the Spanish wingers return to the starting 11 because of Raphinha’s suspension as Xavi opted to go back to the trusty old 4-3-3 system. Both Fati and Ferran responded with goals in an emphatic 4-0 win, with Lewandowski rounding up the scoring with a brace.
Fati’s goal was reminiscent of the teenager who could score at will, seemingly channeling all the frustration around his father’s comments into that shot. Ferran turned up in attack time and again before finally getting his name on the score sheet through a curling effort into the bottom left corner.
Retrospectively, however, it seems like Xavi remains unimpressed. Since the Elche match, Barcelona has faced Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey and Girona and Getafe in the league, failing to score in any of those games. Fati has only started in the Catalan derby while Torres is yet to find his name on the team sheet.
Perhaps the most worrying signs came against Getafe when Xavi chose to go back to the 4-3-3 system but neither Fati nor Ferran started the game. The Barcelona boss chose to start Alejandro Balde on the left wing in a game to forget for La Blaugrana. Both Ferran and Fati came off the bench but to no real effect.
It’s important to remember that both Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati are still young players with plenty of potential, and it’s not uncommon for players to take some time to adjust to new expectations. As they continue to develop, they may very well prove to be valuable assets for Barcelona, even with the return of Dembélé on the horizon.
Despite their potential, it seems that Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati have struggled to make an impact in Xavi’s plans this season. With the club looking to rebuild and balance the books, it’s possible that the Spanish duo could be shown the door in the upcoming transfer window, leaving their continuity at Camp Nou uncertain.
