Barcelona have looked to the future with Ansu Fati and given him the hallowed number 10 shirt left vacant by Lionel Messi.

Messi, 34, exited to Paris Saint-Germain this summer on a free transfer after the Catalans were unable to offer fresh terms because of their ongoing financial problems. Speculation about who would succeed him – or it would be left unused – was ended on Wednesday with a social media post showing Fati, 18, being presented with the iconic jersey.

“Our new number 10, made in La Masia,” it read.

Spain forward Fati has not played since a serious knee injury was picked up versus Real Betis last November. But he returned to training in August and is tipped to imminently add to a prodigious haul of 13 goals in 41 run-outs.