Fermin Lopez talks La Masia days, Barcelona debut, Xavi and Hansi Flick: ‘Sometimes I am not aware of what I have achieved’ | OneFootball

Fermin Lopez has slowly but surely become one of Barcelona’s most important pieces in midfield and has done so purely out of merit.

The youngster seemed to be on his way out of the club in the summer, especially with Chelsea being interested. However, he stayed on, proved his worth, and is now arguably Hansi Flick’s preferred attacking midfielder even above Dani Olmo.

The young academy midfielder spoke to MARCA in a recent interview where he delved in depth into his beginnings at the club and current success.

He began by admitting how he is currently living the life he once dreamt of, saying,

“I live it as a dream. That’s what I’ve dreamed of since I was little and I’ve always worked for. At 22 years old, being in Barça and in the national team is a dream.”

On his beginnings

Speaking on how he arrived at Barcelona at the age of 13, the youngster admitted how difficult it was to adapt to the club’s style at that tender age.

“It was very hard, because it was very small. I think I was not yet ready to go live so far away without my family and friends, although here, in La Masía, they treated me very well, they helped me a lot and it was a very beautiful stage.”

He then opened up on when he saw himself ready to take up football as a professional career, to which he said,

“It’s difficult. When I came from Linares, I thought I was never going to play for Barça, but I could dedicate myself to soccer.”

“And then I had the opportunity to go to the preseason with the first team and it went well and so far,” he added.

The player then opened up on his time on loan at Linares and was first asked if he ever saw it as a step backwards to move from Barcelona to Linares.

“I don’t know if I thought it was a step back, but I did think that the Barça door had closed to me there, that my stage was over.”

“There, in Linares, I did well, I matured a lot as a player and as a person, and I returned to Barcelona with a lot of desire. I took advantage of the preseason and I was able to stay on the first team,” he added.

On whether scoring 12 goals on his loan spell helped his confidence back up, Lopez said,

“Obviously. At that time, I was leaving La Masía, 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.”

On his time in the first team

A decorated player at 22 years of age. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Lopez was then reminded of his debut in 2023 in Barcelona’s clash against Villarreal, on which he said,

“It was incredible. The truth is that I fulfilled my dream of officially debuting with Barça. I was a little nervous, but it went very well.”

Less than three years after his debut, the player has won the Euros, the Olympic gold medal, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

“Sometimes I am not aware of the things I have achieved so far, or the moment I am in, because everything happens so fast that sometimes you do not value where you are or what you have,” he began on the same note.

“Sometimes I try to think about when I arrived at La Masía or when I went to Linares, about what I would have given then to get what I am getting, and the truth is that I am very happy,” he added.

Speaking on the pressure of playing for Barcelona, he said,

“And as for the pressure, I take it well, in the end it’s soccer, I’m aware of the club I’m in, there’s a lot of demand, we always have to be at the best level and that’s what I try every day.”

On Xavi and Hansi Flick

Fermin has bloomed under Hansi Flick. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The midfielder was then asked what he made of Xavi Hernandez as a manager, given that it was the Barcelona legend who handed him his debut.

“Personally, it was a very nice stage. Xavi helped me become a first-team player, I learned a lot with him, although that season did not go very well collectively, I personally did well and he helped me a lot.”

On Hansi Flick as a manager, he admitted that the German was strict but a close person.

“Yes, he is a little 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 and, although he is demanding sometimes, I think we all go with him and we are all united.”

On his goals this season

The player was then asked if Barcelona’s priority this season was the UEFA Champions League, and the youngster refused to attribute any such tags.

“For us, all titles are important. But it is true that the club has not won the Champions League for many years, and we really want to bring that joy to the club and the fans.”

He then admitted that playing the FIFA World Cup was something he looked forward to.

“Yes, I also dream of playing the World Cup. The truth is that it is a very difficult goal, but I think we have a great selection and hopefully I can be in the World Cup and be champions.”

Finally, Lopez was asked what the inspiration behind his military salute celebration is, and he finally revealed the secret.

“I have a friend from here, from Barcelona, Jan Raïch, who makes funny videos on Instagram and TikTok, and one day, as a joke, he told me that if he did this celebration he would cut his hair like mine.”

“So in a game I decided to celebrate it like this and in the end he cut his hair like me, and I already made it mine and that’s how I celebrate the goals,” he added.