Report reveals what Flick and Deco told Fermin Lopez during Chelsea transfer saga | OneFootball

The FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez remained in the news quite a lot during the last phase of the recently closed summer transfer window, as he was linked with a move away from the club.

The Premier League side Chelsea was strongly interested in him, but ultimately, he ended up staying at the Catalan club.

According to revelations from the podcast Barça Reservat (via SPORT), the 22-year-old La Masia graduate held key conversations with coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco during this decisive period. These talks proved instrumental in shaping his final decision.

As soon as Fermin received the proposal from Chelsea, he asked to meet Flick. In that discussion, the midfielder admitted that although he wanted to stay at Barcelona, he was also considering the move to London. He explained his lack of satisfaction over the limited minutes he had been given last season, especially considering his performances.

Flick, for his part, made it clear he was unwilling to lose any more players at such a critical moment in the market. The German coach acknowledged Fermin’s feelings but reassured him that he valued him highly and was counting on him for the new season. Still, he was honest in saying he could not guarantee more minutes, given the competition in attacking midfield.

Those words strengthened Fermin’s determination to stay at Barça. But before making a final decision, he also sat down with Deco. The Portuguese director told him that if Chelsea returned with a second offer that met the club’s demands, Barcelona would consider selling him. However, such a proposal never arrived, as the London side was unwilling to match the Blaugrana’s valuation.

The outcome left both player and club satisfied: Fermin Lopez remained part of Flick’s squad, while Barcelona retained another valuable asset for the season ahead. Now, the 22-year-old will need to fight hard for minutes, with Dani Olmo among his main competitors for a starting spot in midfield.