Fermin Lopez has admitted he thought his Barcelona dream was dead during a loan spell in Spain’s third division. But the La Masia graduate has battled his way back to become a first team fixture at Camp Nou, confessing “the door to Barca had closed” for him at Linares Deportivo.
In a raw interview with ‘Brands & Players’, the Huelva born midfielder laid bare the doubts he suffered after leaving for the 2022-23 season. “I don’t know if going to Linares was a step backwards, but I genuinely believed the door to Barca had closed on me there; I thought my time was over,” Lopez said.
That year away, however, proved the making of him. Banging in 12 goals and maturing away from the spotlight, he returned a different prospect. “Things went very well for me in Linares; I matured immensely,” he admitted. A stellar pre season under Xavi then saw him grab a first team spot he hasn’t let go. “I never envisioned playing for FC Barcelona, but I was confident I could still forge a career… then I was granted the opportunity and it proved successful and here I am today.”
His journey wasn’t always easy. Recalling his move to La Masia at 13, he said: “It was incredibly tough because I was so young. I don’t believe I was fully prepared to live so far from my family.” But the faith shown by Xavi was pivotal. “Xavi was instrumental in helping me become a first team player; I learned an incredible amount from him,” Lopez stated, calling his breakthrough season “personally very rewarding.”
Now under Hansi Flick, the demands remain sky high. “Yes, he is quite demanding,” Lopez said of the new boss. “But ultimately, he’s also a highly approachable individual. He aims to foster a ‘one family’ ethos within the squad. We are all fully behind him.”
The 21 year old, who made his official debut away at Villarreal last September, says the whirlwind hasn’t fully sunk in. “Everything unfolds so rapidly that you don’t always appreciate where you are,” he conceded. But with a new season ahead, his ambitions are clear: helping Barca challenge for the Champions League and forcing his way into the Spain squad for the next World Cup. “Hopefully, I can earn a spot and we can emerge as champions,” he said. Not bad for a lad who thought he’d already blown his big chance.
