Madrid (AFP)

Thirst for records: a year after obtaining Spanish nationality and breaking several precocity records, FC Barcelona phenomenon Ansu Fati (17) became the second youngest player to come into play with Spain on Thursday night against Germany in the League of Nations (1-1).

At 17 years and 308 days Thursday, the young winger of Barça is preceded in the Spanish selection only by Angel Zubieta who was only 17 years and 284 days old in his first match in 1936 ...

And he could even erase from the shelves Errazquin and his hat-trick against Switzerland in Bern on June 1, 1925 at 18 years and 344 days, to become the youngest scorer in the history of Roja on Sunday (18:45 GMT) against Ukraine for the 2nd day of the League of Nations.

A whirlwind debut, both in selection and at Barça: Thursday, for his first appearance in the jersey of the Spain A team (he already has 3 capes with the Spanish hopes) in Stuttgart against Germany, Ansu Fati replaced veteran Jesus Navas after the break (46th) to become the 800th player to wear the red jersey in an official match.

On August 31, 2019, he had already become Barça's youngest goalscorer in La Liga, at 16, 10 months and 4 days.

Then on December 10, the youngest scorer in the history of the Champions League against Inter Milan (2-1).

- "He has the level" -

"He has the level to play with us. He has excellent statistics, the only player who has a better ratio of minutes played / goals scored at Barça is Lionel Messi. I have confidence in him and in the young players that I retained. He has everything to become a very important player in this selection, "had praised Luis Enrique when announcing his first call on August 20.

The teenager born in Guinea-Bissau, who arrived at the age of 7 to join his father on Spanish soil, has compiled 8 goals in 33 matches in all competitions this season at Barça.

He obtained his Spanish passport in September 2019, and started with the national hopeful team on October 15, before being called up to A less than a year later.

“I was traveling with a friend. We were in a hotel, he stood in the doorway, I was going towards the car. From a distance, he waved to me, and I said to myself: + Why is he calling me, that one? + (Laughs). He shouted: + Ansu, you are leaving with the selection! +. I said to myself: + What the hell is that? he tells? +. I did not believe it ", told the young striker of 17 years to the media of the Spanish selection, which followed his first steps as international, Monday.

- "Come back more often" -

"It is a pride and a pleasure to be here. I will try to learn from the best, to enjoy as much as possible. And I hope that with work, I could come back more often (in selection)", wished the rough diamond.

Fan of Andrés Iniesta and David Villa, Fati has become the figurehead of the new generation of Spanish talents who have come to revolutionize the face of an aging team since their incredible Euro - World Cup - Euro treble in 2008, 2010 and 2012 .

Other young talents enjoyed the honor of a first call on August 20: Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla FC), Eric Garcia (Manchester City), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Oscar Rodríguez (Leganés), and Ferran Torres ( Manchester City).

The last three even experienced their first official match with La Roja on the same evening as Fati.

With his "big brother" and childhood friend Eric Garcia, 19-year-old Manchester City defender, and with all the young Spanish guard, Fati intends to leave his mark on the present of La Roja ... before to explode, soon, on a global scale.

© 2020 AFP