Former suitors rue missed opportunity as Barcelona star continues to grow from strength to strength – Report | OneFootball

Fermin Lopez is turning into the kind of player every big club notices a year too late. For FC Barcelona, that is becoming one of the best parts of his rise. What once looked like outside interest now feels more like a reminder that some talents simply cannot be priced away when they still believe this club is where they belong.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Fermin’s latest display against Newcastle only deepened that feeling in England. The report says Manchester United and Chelsea were among the Premier League sides that explored a move last summer, but Barca kept hold of a midfielder. Now, that decision looks like a masterstroke.

The numbers alone explain why the regret is growing. Fermin, still only 22, has produced 12 goals and 16 assists this season, while also standing out in the Champions League with six goals and four assists in nine matches. In most games, like against Newcastle, Fermin is far more than just scoring and helps driving the midfield.

The report highlights how the British reaction was especially strong after that performance. Manchester Evening News described it as a masterclass and framed it as a missed chance for United, a club that watched from afar after failing to secure him last year.

Chelsea were also heavily linked, but the figures mentioned now look almost laughable from a Barca perspective. The article notes that even the highest numbers reported, around €40 million, seem nowhere near the level of a player now valued by Transfermarkt at €100 million.

More important than the market, though, is what Fermin gives Flick’s side on the pitch. He is not just another technical midfielder from La Masia. He adds direct running, edge, pressing intensity and real penalty-box production, which is a rare mix in any top side.

Keeping Fermin is essential from a Barcelona perspective. The Spaniard is developing into a superstar in his own right. La Masia has done it again with unearthing yet another midfield maestro and let’s hope the attacking midfielder continues in the same vein in the months to come.