Ansu Fati’s absence from the opening weeks of AS Monaco’s season is not a sporting decision. The Spanish forward is still completing his recovery from an injury suffered during preseason and, as of September 14, has not made a competitive appearance in 2026-27. The club’s latest medical update, issued before the match against Strasbourg, listed him as undergoing a partial return to training.
What Happened to Ansu Fati? Why Isn’t He Playing?
After a season in which he rediscovered regular playing time and convinced AS Monaco to make his move permanent, the Spanish forward has yet to play a minute in 2026-27. A preseason injury explains his absence.
The situation is particularly notable because Monaco had committed to Fati on a permanent basis only a few months earlier. The former FC Barcelona forward initially joined on loan for the 2025-26 campaign and finished the season with 12 goals in 30 appearances.
That form convinced the Principality club to activate its purchase option. On June 30, Monaco announced that Fati had signed a four-year contract running through June 2030. He had also finished the previous campaign as the club’s second-highest scorer.
His preparations for the new season, however, were disrupted by physical problems. Fati followed an individualized training program during the summer and was unable to take part normally in Monaco’s preseason matches.
Filipe Luís is refusing to rush him
Ahead of the August 30 game against Olympique de Marseille, head coach Filipe Luís provided one of the clearest official updates on the situation. He said Fati was close to recovering from what he described as a minor injury, but still needed to rebuild full fitness after missing a large part of preseason.
Most importantly, Filipe Luís refused to put a specific timetable on his comeback. The coach said the club would wait to see how long it took for the forward to regain the physical level required to return to the squad.
There has since been progress. Fati gradually returned to training during September, but he was still not cleared to play. In its medical update ahead of the September 12 trip to Strasbourg, AS Monaco specifically described him as being in a “partial return” phase, and he was again left out of the matchday squad.
When could Ansu Fati return?
For now, there is no confirmed answer. Monaco’s next match is against RC Lens at the Stade Louis-II on Friday, September 18, but the club has not announced that Fati will be available.
That distinction matters. This is not a case of the Spanish international falling down the pecking order because of form. He remains unavailable while Monaco manages his physical return carefully.
The interest surrounding his comeback comes from what he achieved last season. After several years in which injuries repeatedly interrupted his development, Fati rediscovered regular minutes and goals in France. Monaco responded by making his transfer permanent.
His immediate challenge is therefore straightforward: complete his recovery and regain match fitness. Until the club provides another medical update, any precise return date would be speculation.
