Barcelona revelation Ansu Fati is now eligible to play for Spain after the government moved to make his nationalization official on Friday, yet his father would prefer him to represent Portugal.
Fati was born in Guinea-Bissau but has been in Spain for a significant period of time to be eligible for La Roja and it seems as though the 16-year-old will represent them in the U17 World Cup in Brazil in October.
The winger is also eligible to play for Portugal and his father, Bori Fati, says that it was his hope that his son would represent them instead of Spain.
“My dream was to see my son playing for Portugal and I think that was also his dream, but now it is difficult,” he told A Bola.
“Some time ago, I spoke with a director from the Portuguese Football Federation. The conversation was positive and we agreed to talk the following day but that person hasn’t called me back.
“Then, with these matches that he played, the pressure from Spain grew very strong and I’ve been contacted directly by the president of the Spanish Federation,” he added.
His father stated that he did not feel it would be tough to convince Ansu to play for Portugal as he loves the country.
“He feels Portuguese and so do I. And it would be easy for him to play for Portugal, it would be enough for Umaro Embalo, the Benfica player, to convince him.
“He is a great friend, and speaks every day with Ansu.
“Everything is in the hands of Ansu, he will take a decision now. “
