Barcelona midfield ace expected to be ready for season opener after stepping up recovery | OneFootball

Barcelona have received encouraging news on Fermin Lopez, with the midfielder making significant progress in his recovery ahead of the 2026/27 La Liga season. 

According to Nil Sola on Que T’hi Jugues, the 23-year-old is already jogging and running again, which is another important milestone in his rehabilitation following foot surgery.

The update arrives as Barcelona pre-season officially gets underway at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, where Hansi Flick has welcomed the first group of players back for medical checks and fitness assessments. 

Although Fermin is still following an individual programme, the club is increasingly optimistic that he will be available for the opening week of the league campaign on the weekend of 22-23 August.

Fermin Lopez’s recovery gathering pace

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fermín López Marín (@fermin)

The latest Barcelona news suggests Fermin’s rehabilitation is progressing exactly as planned after the fractured metatarsal he suffered against Real Betis brought his previous season to a premature end.

The injury not only required surgery but also ruled him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, depriving both the player and Spain of an important midfield option during the tournament.

Since undergoing the operation, the Barcelona midfielder has regularly shared updates on social media, giving fans a glimpse into his recovery. 

Notably, Fermin has increased the intensity of his workload by completing individual running sessions on the training pitches while continuing to follow a carefully managed rehabilitation programme over the past few weeks.

Flick hopeful Fermin can feature before La Liga opener

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fermín López Marín (@fermin)

Barcelona’s confidence has grown because Fermin is recovering under the supervision of physiotherapist Jose Cortes, who has overseen every stage of the midfielder’s rehabilitation.

Club officials believe the recovery is progressing faster than anticipated, raising the possibility that the midfielder could even travel with the squad for their Barcelona pre-season tour of England.

If everything continues according to schedule, Fermin could receive valuable match minutes during the friendly against Birmingham City on 31 July, giving Hansi Flick the opportunity to gradually reintroduce him before competitive football returns.

Rather than rushing the process, however, Barcelona intend to monitor every stage carefully, ensuring the academy graduate is fully prepared before returning to regular first-team action.