Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati is set to miss the preseason ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, as reported by Marta Carreras on Catalunya Radio’s ‘Tot Gira’.

He is one of the 10 first-team players to be called up for the preparations ahead of the new season. The other names in the list include Marc André Ter Stegen, Ousmane Dembélé, Philippe Coutinho, Sergiño Dest, Gerard Piqué, Miralem Pjanić, Riqui Puig, Neto, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti.

The coaching staff don't expect Ansu Fati to be fully recovered when La Liga starts. They want him to recover well and won't take any risks. [md] pic.twitter.com/uPjQeCiVYM
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 9, 2021

All these players underwent a medical check to determine their fitness for the preseason. And while the likes of Ter Stegen and Pique will be expected to be ready for selection on the first matchday, the same cannot be said for Fati, along with Ousmane Dembele for sure.

The youngster has been recovering in a hotel in Madrid and has been putting in ‘double the effort’ to achieve full fitness ahead of the new season. Fati has not taken any holidays and is instead training alone regularly to get fit ahead of the new season. He had his fourth successful operation in May and spent a big chunk of the 20/21 season out injured despite impressing in the time that he was fit.

Fati has hit numerous setbacks in the process of recovery. His meniscus has been bothering him for several months now, and Barcelona are clear about the fact that they do not want to rush his return and would like his injury troubles to be solved once and for all.