Ansu Fati's fight for a Barcelona comeback stalls

The Catalan striker, who turned down a move away from the club during the winter transfer window, was left out of the travelling squad yet again.

Determined to prove his worth to manager Hansi Flick, Fati took to social media to share a video of his training efforts at the club's facilities, showing fans he's putting in the hard yards.

However, the homegrown talent doesn't seem to fit into Flick's plans. The German boss believes Fati has room to improve and that other players are ahead of him in the pecking order. Whether it's their form in training, performances on the pitch, or simply a better match for the opposition, Flick has prioritised the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Pau Victor in Barcelona's competitive attacking line-up.

Since recovering from a muscle injury that kept him out through November and most of December, Fati has struggled to break back into the team. The 22-year-old has been named in the matchday squad for only a handful of games, racking up just 28 minutes of action this season - those coming in a Copa del Rey tie against Barbastro.

Barcelona have played 15 matches since he was declared fit, but Fati has been left out of eight, sat on the bench for six, and only featured in that single cup outing. Across the campaign, he's clocked just 186 minutes over eight appearances.

Undeterred, Fati remains desperate to reclaim his spot and rediscover the magic that marked his breakthrough at Barcelona. His latest social media post, uploaded in the last few hours, showcased his work at the club's training ground - a clear message that he's not giving up.

But Flick isn't convinced. The manager has held several talks with the forward, laying it on the line: Fati needs to step up his game to return to the level that once saw him tipped as a future star.

"Our job is to help him grow and get better, just like we do with every player," Flick has said on multiple occasions. For now, though, the German tactician feels Fati's progress isn't enough to earn him a regular role in a fiercely contested forward line.

A quick scan of X shows Barcelona fans split on Fati's situation. Some are urging patience, with one user posting, "Ansu just needs time, he's still got it." Others are less forgiving, with a comment reading, "If Flick doesn't rate him, maybe it's time to move on."

The video Fati shared has garnered plenty of likes, but the debate rages on about whether he'll ever hit the heights expected of him at the Camp Nou.

READ MORE: Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala injury concern for Bayern