Fati called up to U-21s

Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati has been called up to the Spain Under-21s squad for the first time.

The 16-year-old only received clearance to play for Spain on Thursday, and is being thrown into the mix in the country’s youth system at the earliest opportunity.

Many felt Fati would have been called up to the Spanish ranks in time for the upcoming U17 World Cup, which gets under way in Brazil later in October.

But an injury to Barcelona team-mate Carles Perez has given him an opportunity to bed into the system at a higher level.

He will now be in with a chance of featuring in Spain U21s European Championships qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday.