Barcelona star expected to leave prior to big breakthrough – “My time was over”

Fermin Lopez has been a revelation for Barcelona since he broke into the first team back in the summer of 2023. He had little prominence before that time, but now, he is a crucial player for the La Liga leaders.

Prior to being promoted to the senior squad, Fermin was loaned out to third tier side Linares. He has now admitted to Brands&Players (via Sport ) that he did not see himself making it at Barcelona upon making that move.

“I don’t know if I thought it was a step backwards, but I did think that the door to Barça had closed on me, that my time was over. There, in Linares, I did well, I matured a lot as a player and as a person, and when I returned to Barcelona with a lot of desire, I took advantage of the pre-season and I was able to stay in the first team.

“When I came from Linares, I thought I was never going to play for Barça , but I could dedicate myself to football. At that time, I was leaving La Masia, out of my comfort zone, and it made me improve and mature a lot, and obviously without that stage in Linares I could not have achieved what I am achieving.”

Image via Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Fermin, who continues to be linked with a big-money move to Chelsea , was also asked to speak on Xavi Hernandez, who allowed him to make his breakthrough at Barcelona , as well as current head coach Hansi Flick.

“(Xavi) helped me become a first-team player. I learned a lot with him and, although that season didn’t go very well as a team, it went well for me personally and he helped me a lot. (Flick) is a bit demanding, but in the end he is also a very close person. We are all a family and that is what he tries to capture in the team.”