FC Barcelona Vs. AC Milan: Ansu Fati Is Back With Edge Of The Box ...

Ansu Fati was mobbed by his FC Barcelona teammates after scoring a screamer against AC Milan.

Ansu Fati opened FC Barcelona's account in a Las Vegas friendly against AC Milan on Tuesday through an edge-of-the-box screamer that led fans to believe the former child prodigy is "back".

Fati suffered a rough 2022/2023. Despite winning his first La Liga title, he was used sparingly by Xavi Hernandez as an often-imposed four-man midfield system saw Gavi deployed in his position as a false left winger.

With the Catalans cash-strapped and struggling to register new signings plus the contracts of existing stars under Financial Fair Play limits, Fati was deemed surplus to requirements and put on the transfer market.

Thus far, however, there has been nobody come forward to buy the 20-year-old, or offer anything close to what Barca expect to receive for their La Masia graduate, who in 2019 broke a number of youngest appearance maker and goalscorer records aged just 16.

The development has led to Fati heading to the U.S. for the Blaugrana's preseason tour where he has been used sparingly thus far.

For the fourth and final fixture - after the first was canceled because of a virus outbreak - against Milan however, Fati was brought on at half time for Ez Abde and immediately made an impact.

As Alejandro Balde charged forward and made space for him, he laid the ball off for Fati who had to cut inside with the outside of his foot.

From the edge of the box, the Guinea-born sensation then let rip with a rocket that flew into Mike Maignan's top corner, which the Frenchman had no chance with on 55 minutes.

Fati ran over to a hooded Ousmane Dembele on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain, plus Franck Kessie and Gavi, to celebrate his feat.

And on Twitter, there were conclusions that Fati is "back" and on the cusp of having his best campaign yet after several false starts thanks to debilitating injuries.

After putting his team 1-0 up against last season's Champions League semi-finalists, he continued to looked dangerous with a spring in his step while coming close to scoring a second that was blocked at close range.

Returning home to Catalonia alongside his teammates tomorrow, Fati should play a part in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday next week against Tottenham Hotspur before Barca's Spanish top flight crown defense gets underway on the road at Getafe on August 13.