Revealed! Who inherited Messi's jersey 10 in Barcelona?

Barcelona revealed one of the great unknowns for the current season. Everyone wondered who would wear the number 10, the number worn by Leo Messi for many seasons. The final choice was Ansu Fati. After many rumors about who would be the owner of the 10 after the departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, through its social networks, the Catalan club confirmed the news. Ansu Fati, the owner of the 10.

Barcelona revealed one of the great unknowns for the current season. Everyone wondered who would wear the number 10, the number worn by Leo Messi for many seasons. The final choice was Ansu Fati. After many rumors about who would be the owner of the 10 after the departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, through its social networks, the Catalan club confirmed the news. Ansu Fati, the owner of the 10.

Messi's departure had left much uncertainty at the Catalan club. However, one of the main doubts among the fans was who was going to be in charge of wearing the shirt that he wore for so long. That's why the news that the 18-year-old, born in the youth academy, would do it, surprised the world. At first, the institution's directors thought of Philippe Coutinho as the great replacement, but plans changed and Ansu Fati kept the historic jersey.

Ansu, who is currently recovering from a knee meniscus injury sustained last season, made his debut with the 31, but ended up wearing the 22 last season. Although he was going to wear the 17 jersey this year, he finally accepted the challenge and will wear the 10 jersey that brought so much joy to Barcelona.

The club not only sees in Ansu the next Leo Messi of Barcelona, but also gives him their jersey. And with all that this represents. It should be noted that Fati has not played since November 7, 2020, when he suffered a rupture of the internal meniscus in his left knee. Currently, after 10 months out of the courts, he is in the final phase of recovery.

Barcelona did not retire the 10?

La Liga prevents the withdrawal of jerseys because in Spain the numbers go from 1 to 25 for the first team and from 26 to 50 for youth players. Unlike other countries, where you can choose numbers from 1 to 99, in the Iberian country they are stricter on this point. If Barcelona had wanted to retire the 10, then La Liga would ask the Barcelona club to reduce its squad to 24 professional players.

The history of Barcelona's 10

Barcelona released a video in which Ansu Fati wears his new number after having played with the 31 in the beginning, then with the 22 and lately with the 17. "Ansu Fati inherits the mythical dorsal 10 that Lionelo Messi had worn since the 2008-2009 season and takes the baton from other stars of Barcelona's history such as Brazilians Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Romario.

Ansu Fati: the canterano owner of the number 10

Ansu joined Barça in 2012, when he was 10 years old. Barça signed him along with his brother Braima, both coming from Sevilla's youth academy. Born in October 2002 in Guinea-Bissau, when he was six years old he arrived with his family in the Sierra Sur de Sevilla. He lived in Herrera, a town of about six thousand inhabitants located an hour from the Andalusian capital.While his father, who had been a soccer player in his country, worked at the municipal dump, at the Renfe or even as a chauffeur for the mayor of Marinaleda.

Ansu played soccer at the Peloteros de Herrera School.  There he was given his first record as a footballer, in December 2009, shortly after arriving in Spain. They were champions of their group in prebenjamín category and runners-up in the Sierra Sur, in addition to winning trophies such as Casariche or Plazuela. He remained three seasons in the Peloteros School.