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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Sports / Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou (37348 Views)
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Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by References: 3:59pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Ansu Fati has made a long trip from the fields of Guinea-Bissau, where he played as a child, to Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium where the 16-year-old is playing with some of the biggest stars in the world. Fati's has made a stirring start to the season, scoring just two minutes into his full La Liga debut on a magical night when he hardly put a foot wrong in front of over 80,000 astonished Camp Nou fans who gave him a standing ovation as he left the field. He was just seven years old when he first came to Spain and his startling talent meant he was invited to join Barcelona's prestigious youth academy 'La Masia' aged 10. It was an incredible achievement for a boy from the impoverished West African nation that has never been known for football. In Sao Paulo, his home neighbourhood in the rundown suburbs of capital Bissau, the children yell "Ansu Fati, Barca player!" as they run around on ochre soil, under the tropical trees. Malam Romisio, who coached Fati as a child, told AFP how the boy used to play football wearing only socks or plastic sandals, easily dribbling the ball past bigger, stronger teammates. When Fati made his debut with Barca's first team at the end of August, the coach switched his allegiance from Real Madrid. "If he continues like this, he will be a great player," he predicted. In Guinea Bissau, which is one of the world's poorest and most fragile nations, Fati is a source of national pride. Born on October 31, 2002, he lived in Bissau until he was six. In the house where he grew up, Fati's uncle Djibi Fati shows photos of the footballer as a child, dressed in traditional clothes, recalling how others used to tease him for his love of bread and butter. "Every time he came back from playing football, he would ask for it," he recalls. - Family divided, reunited in Spain - When he was still very small, his father, Bori Fati, went to Portugal to look for work, later settling near Seville in southwestern Spain. Bori picked olives, collected empty glasses in nightclubs and even helped build a high-speed rail track, recalls Amador Saavedra, who befriended him in Herrera, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Malaga. It was only when the Communist mayor of Marinaleda, a nearby town, hired Bori as a driver and helped him financially, that he managed to bring his young family over in 2009. "It's a very beautiful story," said Saavedra, 53. Bori ended up training his young son at the Peloteros football school, which is free for thousands of children in Herrera and the surrounding towns. - Cheerful but quiet - When Fati arrived he quickly caused a sensation on the football pitch, said Jordi Figaroa Moreno, his first Spanish coach. "He had a gift," he told AFP. "The difference between him and his teammates was just huge, both technically and tactically. Among the youngsters, it's rare to find children who can play as a team, but he had everything." Jose Luis Perez Mena, who runs the Peloteros school, described Fati as "very spontaneous" and "very cheerful" as well as "extroverted, but very quiet". His stellar success "has not gone to his head". Within a year of arriving in Spain, Fati joined Sevilla. In 2012, at the age of 10, he was enrolled in Barcelona's youth system. "Ansu was one of the youngest players ever to have entered La Masia," said Marc Serra, his first coach at Barcelona. "From the day that he arrived he was different, the type of player who invents football." - 'Mind-blowing' - In August, the teenager became the youngest player to score for Barcelona in La Liga. This month he became the club's youngest player in a Champions League match. Spain's national coach Robert Moreno described Fati's debut for Barcelona as "mind-blowing". Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde spoke of him as a "balanced boy" who is "at ease with himself". "We want him to learn to know himself, to know the first division, so he sees that it is hard and how much work and dedication it will take to succeed," he said. Speaking to Spain's Onda Cero radio last month, his proud father said he had taught Fati to "be respectful and happy with everyone". "Every day I tell him: 'This is your job: when you have the ball, turn towards the goal, don't look anywhere else, and just shoot." https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.france24.com/en/20190920-wonderkid-fati-from-african-suburb-to-barcelona-s-camp-nou 17 Likes 1 Share
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Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by tshoboy(m): 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
My guy 13 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Edgarated(m): 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Everything no be school o, your talent can fetch you "beautiful" money and fame. 99 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by ainas247: 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
The boy is Good! I have watched all his highlight on YouTub. Rank your website to Google Page 1 and get real result chat up now 7 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by alfredo4u(m): 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Another Messi in the making.....we the entire Barca fans welcomes you. U r our future hope in Barca 78 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Lincoln275(m): 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Ok 1 Like |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Miracle4Sure: 6:00pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Great |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by durubennie(m): 6:01pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Make dem no use hype finish this boy oo He is lucky that it isn't the English Media hyping him. 33 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by MANNABBQGRILLS: 6:01pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Another star for the future. This was the same boy that his father was a driver in Spain. If you believe it, you can achieve it. All the best Fati. 65 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by NonFarmPayrol: 6:01pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
lol please media should leave this boy for us na too much attention we want to hide him funny how a 16 year old boy makes headlines weekly , and hidden hazard is no where to be found he should have stayed back at chelsea 20 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by jeff1607(m): 6:01pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
hmmmmm |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Olanipekun1: 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
[s] post=82412168:[/s] 6 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by kadree(m): 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Then to the Spanish national team. |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by marwanafrica: 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Fati, and 2002? |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by chukwuibuipob: 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
we have boys like this around wasting away.Our NFA chairman PANIC whatever his name bi won't use their loot to buiild sport academy but nah personal house,hotel dem go build for demself/unborn pikin.The useless EFCC will soon release the property to the thief. 9 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by NwaBoy: 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
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Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by sodiqapril(m): 6:02pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
If he had stayed in Africa..he wouldn't have gotten this far in life..moral of the story..if you've any special talent you need to develop..LEAVE AFRICA!!! 38 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by mideji(m): 6:03pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
ride on boy fati 1 Like |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Starhearts: 6:03pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Good player |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by MANNABBQGRILLS: 6:03pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
kadree:Spain trying everything they can do at the moment to fasten the process of his paper work so that he can play for them at next month Under 17 World Cup already! 17 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by DarlingEmojist(m): 6:03pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
This guy dey play,buh he no fit replace Messi |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Royalfurnitures: 6:04pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Great guy Check out my signature for quality and durable furniture for your homes and offices |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by drips8(m): 6:04pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
He's a young talent and now he'll be representing Spain since he's been granted Spanish citizenship at the next under 17 world cup. Only God knows if he's a future balon d'or winner. 5 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by chimhigher(m): 6:04pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
"Don't look anywhere else just shoot"... Make him no pass abi cos na only am dey field.. 4 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Olanipekun1: 6:05pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
[s] post=82412228:[/s] 4 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by dgitrader(m): 6:05pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Fulani amaka 2 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Fogman(m): 6:06pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Raw talent 1 Like |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Satan66(m): 6:06pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Africa always looking poor in the news one way or another. Quite saddening. 10 Likes |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by madridsta007(m): 6:09pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
References: Let’s hope he becomes near to someone like Iniesta, Xavi or even Eto’o. The next “Messi”. Lol. We heard that when Bojan Kirkic, Dembele, etc burst on the scene. Calm Down guys. Messi is someone that can’t be replicated. Even C.Ronaldo fans admit that. Calm down let the boy play. 21 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by retake89(m): 6:11pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
Re: Wonderkid Fati: From African Suburb To Barcelona's Camp Nou by Maldini212(m): 6:12pm On Sep 20, 2019 |
All thanks to his father for taking the risk to migrate to Spain 5 Likes |
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