Barcelona playmaker opens up on humble roots and La Masia journey – “Still have a long way to go” | OneFootball

Fermin Lopez has established himself as one of the most exciting midfielders in European football, becoming a key figure for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team in a remarkably short space of time.

But the journey to the top was far from straightforward, and in a recent interview with La Vanguardia (h/t Diario SPORT), the Spaniard opened up about the sacrifices made along the way.

Leaving home for La Masia

Lopez began his footballing education at Recreativo de Huelva before earning a move to Real Betis, where he continued to develop until Barcelona came calling with an offer to join La Masia. The transition, while exciting, was not without its difficulties.

“At first I had a bit of a hard time because I missed my family and friends. But they treat you very well and give you every opportunity to help you develop as a person and as a footballer. I’ve made great friends,” he said.

After impressing at the academy, a loan spell at Linares Deportivo in 2022 provided him with the experience and playing time needed to take the next step, and the following season, he broke into Barcelona’s first team.

Fermin Lopez has been a standout player for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Throughout it all, Lopez, who is expected to be in contention for the Celga Vigo clash, said he has leaned heavily on the values instilled in him from an early age, and he was quick to credit his family for keeping him grounded.

“My family is very humble and they have always helped me with everything, and they have instilled in me the importance of being grounded. Thanks to them, I take everything with more calm and naturalness,” he said.

Despite the distance, he stays in close contact with his parents on a daily basis, though he admits they perhaps appreciate the magnitude of his achievements more than he does himself.

“We talk every day, but, to be honest, they’re much more amazed than I am by everything that’s happening to me.

“In the end, you don’t realise what you’ve achieved until some time has passed. But they’re very happy and keep telling me to keep working, that I still have a long way to go,” he added.

Finally, the playmaker talked about a loan spell at Linares, admitting that it was a challenging period for those closest to him.

“They had a hard time when I had to go to Linares, and now I’m especially happy for them,” he concluded.