The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will no doubt have been stunned by the rapid rise of the 16-year-old, after he netted his second goal in two games for Barcelona at the weekend.
He is eligible to play for Guinea-Bissau, the country of his birth, but moved to Spain in 2012 as a nine-year-old and so would be available to commit to his adopted homeland if he desired. Spain boss Roberto Moreno has made getting Fati to pledge his allegiance as a priority move ‘It’s not an issue which I am in control of,’ Moreno said, as reported by SPORT.
‘People at the RFEF are working on that to get Ansu [to play for La Roja] and it will be the player’s decision. The RFEF are working on having the best players.’
Spain want Fati to pledge his international allegiance to them with a view of making him the star of their Under-17 side at the World Cup in October. Fati is firmly part of the first-team set-up at the Nou Camp this season and marked his first senior start with a goal in the 5-2 win over Valencia.
The 16-year-old became Barcelona’s youngest-ever scorer when he netted against Osasuna prior to the international break and, pushed into the starting line-up, he needed less than two minutes to find the net again.
Fati, who was a major threat throughout, then set up Frenkie de Jong for the second only four minutes later with Spanish media asking ‘what planet had he come from?’ following another impressive display.
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