Barcelona forward Ansu Fati with an eye on Paris Saint-Germain second leg

Ansu Fati is closer to returning to action all day. The Barcelona forward isn't rushing but he's not holding back, either. The forward is pushing ahead with his recovery and is in the final straight, although there's still a lot of work to be done. He knows that. He doesn't want to take any risks. Neither do the club. The priority is to return when he is 100 percent. Anything else would be dangerous for the career of a kid who is only 18 years old.

Ansu has now played since Nov. 7 when he injured his knee. He's not done what he loves most since then: play football. And he was in his best form. A regular in Ronald Koeman's side, he was taking responsibility on the pitch. In 10 games, he had scored five goals and set up four more. And always with a smile on his face. Like always. With his feet on the ground, too, aware that everything he's experiencing is a privilege. That's how he was formed at La Masia. He has something special. And the objective is that he still has that something special when he returns.

WHEN'S HE BACK?

The estimate was four months when he was ruled out at first. But every player is different. And, luckily, Ansu knows that and is going step by step. He's in the hands of the medical team and the fitness staff, including Raul, the person who has accompanied him daily for years. The man in charge of getting the best out of him. They got to work once Ansu left the hospital in November after his operation. They've been working more days than usual. That shows they don't want to take risks. Some weeks Ansu has felt better, others worse. Some weeks seeing himself playing against Paris Saint-Germain in March. Other weeks not. That's the game marked for his return. The second leg. A tough one after months out.

TREATMENT

At the start of January, Barça informed that "Ansu Fati has undergone a regenerative biological treatment by Dr. Ramon Cugat under the supervision of the club's medical services, with the evolution of his injury following a very satisfactory course." That last part of the statement was what many held on to in hope that he would be back sooner than expected. But it wil be tough. In recent days, he's stepped forward with his recovery work and, if the results are positive, in the coming weeks he will be back out on the grass. At first without the ball. Later with it and, finally, back with the group. We're talking several weeks. And there are five weeks until the second leg vs. PSG. He could make it. He might not.

Ansu's case is different from the rest. Remember he was operated on aged just 18. He's still young. The problem is it's not the first operation he's needed, either, as he always needed one when he broke his leg in the academy. For that reason, he knows about coming back from a tough injury. Recovering sensations. Touching the ball. The connection between the head and the legs. Everything is a process. And Ansu has earned the right to carry it out in his own time, without rushing. He's the first person that wants to play as soon as possible but he must be in the right shape. Ansu is the present and the future.

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