In Monaco, where the international break has given way to the return of Ligue 1, Ansu Fati is back in the matchday picture. The former Barcelona forward has been selected by Filipe Luis for Saturday night’s home game against Toulouse, putting him in line for his first official appearance of the season.
The news from the club
Fati had not featured competitively for Monaco this term after suffering a calf problem during pre-season. Rather than rush the 22-year-old back, Filipe Luis opted for an individual, gradual conditioning programme intended to avoid a more serious setback.
His return began on 3 October, when Monaco played Pisa in a friendly arranged during the FIFA window. Monaco won 2-0, with Fati completing the first half. Filipe Luis spoke positively about the attacker after that outing, and his inclusion against Toulouse had been anticipated in the club’s pre-match build-up.
The selection is a significant step for a player whose first season in the Principality persuaded Monaco to make his move permanent. After initially arriving on loan from Barcelona, Fati was bought in the summer for €11 million and signed a contract running until 2030.
He scored 12 times for Monaco last season: 11 goals in Ligue 1 and one in the Champions League. Those returns made him an important figure at the Stade Louis II, and the Toulouse fixture now offers the chance to begin a delayed new campaign.
The Ligue 1 return
Monaco meet Toulouse as France’s top division resumes following the international break. For Fati, the immediate question is no longer whether he will return to the squad, but whether the evening in Monaco will bring his first competitive minutes of the season.
