Barcelona give Fati No.10 shirt after Messi departure

INA – SOURCES
 
Ansu Fati has been given the No. 10 shirt at Barcelona after it was vacated by Lionel Messi's move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the summer, the club confirmed Wednesday.
 
Sources told ESPN that Barca had considered leaving the number unused for the 2021-22 season, but LaLiga rules that first-team players must wear numbers 1-25 made that difficult.
 
Ansu, who returned to training recently following nine months out with a knee injury, had originally been given the No. 17 shirt for the upcoming campaign and has previously worn No. 22 and No. 33 since making his debut in 2019.
 
Messi, who joined PSG on a free transfer after his contract at Camp Nou expired, had worn the No. 10 at Barca since 2008, having previously worn No. 30 -- the number he now wears in France -- and No. 19.
 
The Argentina forward inherited the No. 10 from Ronaldinho, with Juan Roman Riquelme and Rivaldo among those to wear it before him.
 
Ansu, 18, has not played for Barcelona since injuring a knee against Real Betis last November. Following several operations, he returned to full training at the end of August, and Barca hope he will be available for action later in September.