MADRID, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona's 16-year-old striker Ansu Fati has been called into the Spain Under-21 squad just a day after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) received clearance from FIFA that the youngster, who was born in Guinea Bissau, was eligible to play for Spain.

Fati, who will be 17 at the end of October, replaces his Barcelona team-mate Carles Perez, who has been forced to drop out of the squad with a muscle problem, which on Thursday drew 1-1 at home to Germany.

Spain U-21 coach Luis de la Fuente was unable to call him up a week ago because the correct paperwork authorizing his call-up into the Spanish squad had not arrived.

Fati will now almost certainly make his debut on Tuesday in a European Championship qualifying game against Montenegro and that will mean there is no chance of another country attempting to attract his services.

The teenager burst onto the scene at the start of this season, due partly to the injuries suffered by Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, and Ousmane Dembele, making his debut in their 5-2 win at home to Betis. So far he has scored two goals (against Valencia and Osasuna) and has also provided two assists. Enditem

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