At the end of August 2019, just after Anso Patti made his Barcelona uniform debut at the age of 16 and nine months, Lionel Messi posted on his Instagram account a picture with the prodigy who was immediately crowned as the next big thing.
Over 6 million followers loved the cordial paragon.
"I was impressed from the first moment I saw him," the flea later explained.
Messi was enthusiastic about the young talent and hoped to continue educating him.
He waited for him to overcome the serious injury and wanted to pass him the baton as Ronaldinho had done with him in the past.
In the beginning, even before Portuguese agent Georges Mendes got into the picture, brother Rodrigo Messi was in charge of Patti's affairs.
Support was total even during the injury period.
The connection was sincere and genuine.
But life is not always a plan as you request.
Even if you are the best footballer in the world.
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Messi parted ways with Barcelona in the summer he reluctantly left, leaving a huge void.
It's not just about the amount of goals and cooks or the ability that swept Barça into the most beautiful period in its history.
He was the symbol, the face of the club, the man thanks to whom fans came and also procurement players.
Patty could not be all that in an instant.
Not even in five years and who knows if at all.
Still, his comeback (and speeding up the signing of the new contract) gives hope to a troubled club that is still in mourning.
The initiation ceremony was not completed.
Leo Messi with Anso Patti (Photo: Reuters)
Only in the middle of next week will Patti celebrate his 19th birthday. He is the youngest player to score in the Barcelona uniform, the youngest to score in the Spanish league and also in the Champions League and the Spanish national team. He managed to do all this before the serious knee injury in November last year, against the same pilot against whom he made his debut in August 2019. Barcelona first announced a three-month absence, after the surgery lasted a month and eventually the rehabilitation procedure included no less than four surgeries and almost 11 months off the field. .
While Patti had already counted the days leading up to the rematch, Barcelona got into a storm. Messi's departure revealed how deep the pit left by the previous management, the team looked pathetic at the start of the season and especially in the Champions League and the question was just how much it would cost to fire Ronald Koeman. Then, suddenly, his light was discovered at the end of the tunnel. "El Piva de Oro" (The Golden Boy), if you will.
Barcelona Model 2021/22 is in the midst of building the next big team. What Pedro started last season, 17-year-old Gabi now continues. These two have the potential to be an updated version of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Ronald Arauho is set to be Gerard Pique of a decade ago. But with all due respect to the three of them, and other youngsters who can break out of the current squad or a word from Asia, to be the face of Barcelona the day after Messi, need numbers. And only Patty can provide that.
In his first 50 minutes of the season, Patti scored two goals with kicks from outside the box.
Recall again, it happened after a severe knee injury and prolonged absence.
Almost a year, and as if nothing had changed.
Still the same superstar in the making.
In his case no one talked about the need for time to remove rust.
To date, the Guinea-Bissau-born winger has kicked La Liga 22 times, in 34 games (18 of them in the squad) and scored 13 goals.
Almost 60 percent success, despite the lost year, and the most goals in the Barcelona uniform before the age of 19 (Bojan Krkic had 12, Messi 7).
So what's the wonder that the intention is to place him separately in the Clásico?
Along the way he also saved his coach from layoffs.
Anso Patti with Ronald Koeman (Photo: GettyImages, Soccrates Images)
The diamond's connection with agent Mendes has put a lot of pressure on Barcelona, probably in its current economic and image situation. There were flirtations from the Premier League, according to El Mundo also a huge offer from Paris Saint-Germain that was willing to give a signing grant of 30 million euros, even before a salary of 15 million per season. But Patty made it clear to his agent in advance: "Only Barça."
Barcelona hoped to end the negotiations even before the Clásico and met the target. Immediately after the narrow 0-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv, which revived the team's chances in the Champions League, Patti entered the club's offices to officially sign a contract until 2027, including an "anti-Sheikhs" clause (a € 1 billion release clause, like Federy). The salary, according to estimates, will be about 10 million euros net per season. Less than he would have received at PSG, but like mentor Messi, he too preferred Barcelona.
"There were other offers, but I was clear about my desires," Patty said after the signing.
"My dream has always been to succeed in Barcelona. Messi? No one will be able to match him or recreate what he did. I have my own way of going."
Asked permission from the captains before taking the shirt.
Anso Patti with Number 10 (Photo: GettyImages, Soccrates Images)
Patty's perseverance even in the difficult moments off the field, when he had to wait longer and longer until he received the final approval, and the smooth and settled form in which he returned, surprised many. "His maturity is surprising, the ability to combine moments that he erupts with moments that he is relaxed," said Jorge Valdano, a former Real Madrid player and coach. "When I see such things in a young actor, I understand that he needs to be taken seriously."
He who was not at all surprised is his first coach at the Barcelona academy. "After one of his first tournaments, Enso rode alone by train back to Sevilla and on the way sent me a message," coach Mark Sera told AFP this week. "He wrote that he was sorry he played so badly and that it would not happen again. He was only 10. So mature and determined."
Some believe that Patty got the number 10 shirt too soon and that it would have been better to wait for the summer or at least to sign the new contract before this coronation move.
But this is not a discount of the club but another proof of the maturity of the young talent.
Patty wanted Messi's shirt and even asked permission from the four captains (Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba) before making the move which of course added a few more pounds to the burden he is now taking on his back.
Was it a hasty move or was it requested?
The burden of proof on Patti.
In the meantime, in the few minutes he has received since returning to the pitches, he has lit up Barcelona and completely changed the atmosphere as well as expectations.
The first meeting of the season with Real Madrid, exactly a year after becoming the youngest scorer in the history of the Clasico games, may turn out to be a significant stop on the way to the coronation.