Barcelona under-19 head coach Victor Valdes said he bought new boots for Ansu Fati as the teenager continues to impress at Camp Nou.
Fati became Barca s second youngest player to feature in LaLiga during their 5-2 win over Real Betis on Sunday.
The 16-year-old moved behind Vicente Martinez, who was 18 days younger when he played against Real Madrid in October 1941, after coming off the bench.
Former Barca goalkeeper Valdes – back at Camp Nou as a coach – spoke about the highly rated youngster.
When you are 16 years of age and playing at Camp Nou
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
I told him to bring me his boots and they were a complete disaster, they were causing him pain, Valdes said at a news conference on Monday.
Nobody had thought it could be the boots, but I did. We went to buy some new ones.
Born in Guinea-Bissau, Ansu arrived at Barca in 2013 at the age of 10 and has impressed at every level since then, recently signing a deal that will keep him at the club until June 2022.
Playing for the club s Juvenil A under-18 side, Ansu was not expected to feature for the first team for some time. However, injuries to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele saw him drafted into Ernesto Valverde s side for the home clash with Betis.
He s strong, quick and self-confident, Valdes added. You have to give this kind of talent freedom so that he flows.
I m so happy for him, he called me this morning and it made me very excited.
I m thankful to [Ernesto] Valverde for giving him some minutes. His performance didn t surprise me.
