“I hope Lamine arrives fresh at the World Cup and gives Spain joy like he did at the Euro Cup”

TOnsu Fati (2002, Guinea-Bissau) faces the end of the season in Monaco, where he is on loan from Barcelona, ​​with a double objective. First of all, put your team in European competition for the next campaign and, on the other, enter Luis de la Fuente’s list for the next World Cup. He knows it’s complicated, but he doesn’t lose hope taking into account his good records as a scorer. Best of all, however, is that the issue of injuries is now becoming just a memory.

How have you adapted to Monaco?

Very good, I am very happy. The reception from the club and everyone has been excellent, and that has been the key to the adaptation being so good.

What is daily life like in Monaco?

It’s very quiet. I come to train and then I go home, where I continue with my recovery. It’s a good life here; It is similar to Spain, especially because of the climate, and I am very comfortable.

What do you do on your day off?

Many things. I spend time with my sister, who is the one who is here in Monaco with me. We go out for walks and do activities outside of football, because during work days everything is football, football, football… So I try to disconnect: I go to the beach, walk and, sometimes, I go to the music studio to sing.

On my days off I go to a music studio to sing with Paul Pogba.”

And where does that singing come from?

Paul (Pogba) likes to sing and he took me to the music studio one day to express himself in some way. It took me a day, I loved it, and from then on I started going with it. The truth is that I like it.

What kind of music do you sing?

A little bit of everything. What you are living and feeling you are singing, and that helps you.

What is Paul Pogba like?

It’s a big one. I barely knew him; I think we had met once. Since I came here it has made everything easier for me. He helps me with everything, I go to his house a lot and we try to have a good time. He is an amazing guy and has helped me a lot.

Well look, his name came up to sign for Barça…

I always tell him that. I told him that in Spain, despite never having played there, he is very famous because he always appeared everywhere: whether it was Barça or Madrid. He is a great player and I hope we can enjoy time together.

How is Ligue 1 compared to the Spanish one?

They are different. In Spain all the teams try to propose. Here, although there are teams that do it, it is a more physical and direct football.

Don’t you think the French League is undervalued?

Yes, great players come out here that we later see in the Premier. There is also PSG, which now dominates in Europe. It is underrated, but if you look at the important teams, many players have left Ligue 1.

Is there the same passion as in Spain?

In Monaco a little less, but when we go outside it is much more noticeable. Even so, here there are also games in which the energy of the people who support us can be perceived, although perhaps it is somewhat less.

La Masia in Barça and Diagonal in Monaco: can these two football schools be compared?

It’s similar. Monaco has brought out great players, like Mbappé. Now there are others like Akliouche, Coulibaly or Bamba, who are young people with a lot of potential and can go wherever they want.

You were about to make a splash in the Champions League and eliminate PSG. What were they missing?

We knew it was going to be difficult; They are the champions of the Champions League. We tried to make things difficult for them, and that was the case, but in the end it didn’t happen. We are very proud of how we performed and hopefully next year we can achieve it, because football always gives you the opportunity for revenge.

And in the League you won both games…

They know that we play well and analyze their weak points. In the League we beat them both games, so the balance was favorable for us.

Now you are in the sprint to enter Europe, are you optimistic?

We are fighting for it. We know it won’t be easy, but we will give everything to be in the Champions League.

Messi helped me especially, he told me: “calm down, this is just football, try to have a good time and things will work out for you.”

What a thrill last weekend with his goal against Metz, right?

Whenever a striker scores it is good for confidence. I was able to help the team in the last minute with the goal, but I am left with the great work we all did.

How do you rate your average of one goal every 110 minutes?

When I go out on the field I try to give my best, what the coach asks of me and what the team needs. It’s a matter of getting into work mode for the team; the rest comes alone.

You have always had a goal, are you born with this or do you work with it?

In the end it is about intuiting the play, seeing where the ball is going to land. The way I see it, it’s intuition and anticipating everything. I think that’s the key.

The week I made my debut for Barça was crazy; I enjoyed it like a child, which is what I was after all.

What were your first moments at Barça like: your debut, the goal against Osasuna, the goal against Valencia…?

That week was crazy. Days before I was in the youth team and I rose very quickly to the first team. I enjoyed it like a child; well, like the child he was. Very happy, and I will always remember it because it was a very exciting moment for my family and friends.

How did Valverde tell you?

At that time I was the youngest on the team. Everyone pushed me to have a good time and enjoy that moment, which not everyone experiences. They helped me a lot and reassured me, telling me that if I failed not to worry and to keep trying.

And Messi?

Everyone helped me, and especially Leo. I was a boy who came up to the first team and they had already gone through that. They told me: “Don’t worry, this is just football, try to have fun and things will work out for you.”

Who did you rely on the most in the squad?

I was very reserved. A week before I saw them on TV and the next day I was playing with them. Everyone tried to support me; I remember Rakitic and Semedo, but in general it was everyone. I noticed that they had a special affection for being the youngest. I had many conversations with Busquets, also with Leo, Piqué… They all gave me their vision. But what I remember most is that they told me to have a good time, which was the most important thing, and to be responsible knowing where I was.

The first time you walked into that locker room, what did you think?

Phew! I greeted everyone and then stayed in my place, calm. From then on I just wanted to get on the field to get rid of my nerves, because that was where I could let off some steam. Having them all by my side was too much. I remember that they tried to talk to me because I was very shy, and that was the key for me to integrate very well into the group.

I feel good physically and I am happy to be available to help the team

How are you feeling physically now?

I’m fine, I feel happy. I can play and be available in all the games, and I hope I can continue like this, because I feel that, with regularity, I can give a lot.

How do you remember the moment of the injuries at Barça? Are you still thinking about it?

It’s football and injuries are part of it. Nobody wants to get injured. In my case, I’ve been around for quite a while, but I’m still working to be available as much as possible. And I will continue doing it until a season comes in which I free myself from everything, because I have seen many examples of players to whom it has happened and there comes a time when it is over. I work to be at the highest level.

Who helped you the most in those moments?

Above all my family, who lives it day by day with you and sees you suffer. There are good days and others not so good, but they are always there. Also my friend Marc, who supports me every day; colleagues and people from outside… A little bit of everyone. That gives me the motivation to continue working and return that happiness to them.

Going to the World Cup would be a dream, but if it doesn’t happen I will work to be in the next call

Physically recovered, with good numbers, do you see yourself in the World Cup?

It would be a dream. I try to do my job and, if that award comes, I would be very happy. I’m calm, working and doing my thing. If the World Cup has to come, it will come; and if not, I will continue working to be in the next call.

Win a Champions League or a World Cup?

Complicated. I would tell you that a World Cup. It’s every four years and you have an entire country behind you. You can play in the Champions League every year and you have more opportunities.

If he is called up for the World Cup he will meet many Barça friends again.

Yes, the truth is that yes. I am very happy to see many friends who are doing very well. It is a great happiness to see how they succeed.

Champions or World Cup? I would say a World Cup because it is every four years and you have an entire country behind you.

Who do you have the most contact with?

With many, especially with Balde, Araujo, Gavi, Lamine… We talk about everything and, when I go to Barcelona, ​​we get together and chat.

Have you already talked to them about the Classic?

Yes, I was just talking to Bucket before. It will be a very exciting match, like all Clásicos, and even more so if they can become champions.

Is winning the League in your field against Real Madrid the best for a culé?

It is like that, but it will be difficult because Real Madrid knows that if they lose, Barça wins the League. It will be a very fun Classic.

Madrid has not had a good season. You played against them in the Champions League, how did you see them?

They let off some steam against us. They came from a change of coach and we knew that motivates the players. We were not up to par and it was a tough defeat.

Is it fair to compare Lamine Yamal with Messi?

Each player is different. Leo has made his history. Lamine is just beginning his journey, although he has already done a lot. There is no need to compare.

Lamine has been injured on the eve of the World Cup.

Injuries are part of football. I hope he arrives well and fresh at the World Cup, and can bring joy to Spain, as he already did in the Euro Cup.

Monaco wants to execute the purchase option and have him stay. What is the future of Ansu Fati?

Now I am happy in Monaco. When the season ends I will talk to whoever has to to decide.

Are you talking to Deco or Bojan?

Bojan writes to me a lot to see how I am. I maintain a relationship with people from the club, also with cooks and props, with whom I lived on a day-to-day basis. I talk a lot with club workers.

What options do you see for Dembélé and France for the World Cup?

It is the last Ballon d’Or and it is at a brutal level at the end of the season. France is one of the favorites: it won in 2018 and was a finalist in 2022. It will surely be fighting to reach the final.

And Messi and Argentina?

He is the current champion. We know how Argentina plays and the passion it has. Having Leo on the team motivates everyone. I have experienced it: it gives you an extra boost to compete. Surely they will be in the semi-finals or the final.

Lamine and Spain?

I hope she is a champion. It will be very difficult because there are no favorites: everyone competes to the maximum. Lamine already showed it in the Euro Cup and in the Nations League. If it arrives fresh, it will be differential.

And Raphinha with Brazil?

He is injured, but knowing him he will be working like crazy to get to the World Cup well. Brazil has a lot of pressure to win, and that can sometimes work against them, but they have the team to be on top.