Fermin Lopez: Barcelona's newest young star really is the 'whole package'

Fermin was born in the port city of Huelva in Andalusia, and started playing football as a youngster with local club El Campillo. He went on to take in spells in the academy ranks at Recreativo Huelva and Real Betis before being snapped up by Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2016.

While honing his skills on the famed youth pitches at La Masia, Fermin showed off his versatility by playing in a number of different positions, but his star-making potential wasn't immediately clear. He was not always an "outstanding performer" in the eyes of Barca's academy coaches and concerns were raised over his physicality - as The Athletic reports.

He had to wait until August 2022 before finally being handed a professional contract with the club's reserve team Barcelona Athletic, but was identified as one of the weakest members of the squad after completing pre-season.

Barca felt Fermin's development would be best served by a loan spell so that he could play regular minutes while building up his physique, and Linares brought him on board for a year in the Primera Federacion.

Fermin shone at Linares, featuring in 40 games across all competitions, including three in the Copa del Rey. He amassed an impressive haul of 12 goals and four assists on his way to becoming one of the best players in the third tier, paving the way for a fresh start at Barca.

Xavi called Fermin in for first-team training in early July, and within the space of a week he decided that the youngster had to be a part of his squad for the trip to the United States. It was clear to the Barca manager that Fermin had transformed from a weak kid with an uncertain future to a man determined to make his mark after maturing physically and mentally in his year away from the club.

Barcelona opened their tour of the United States with a 5-3 loss to Arsenal in California as Xavi fielded a strong XI in the first half before changing the whole team for the second period. Fermin was introduced in place of summer signing Ilkay Gundogan, and impressed on his long-awaited senior debut.

He was right in the thick of of the action throughout his 34 minutes on the pitch, showing off neat touches while pushing forward at every opportunity. Xavi brought Fermin off late on as he continued to ring the changes, but he'd already staked a strong claim for a starring role in the Clasico.

Barca took on arch-rivals Real Madrid at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, two days later, and the Liga champions took an early lead through Ousmane Dembele. Los Blancos upped their level thereafter and it looked like only a matter of time before they'd find an equaliser.

That is, until Fermin entered the fray. The attacker came on for Pedri in the 66th minute and embarked on a solo mission to re-establish Barca's authority in the game.

That sense of urgency eventually reaped the ultimate reward, as Fermin received a Mikayil Faye pass some 35-yards from goal and took three touches to set himself before letting fly. His thunderous left foot shot was bound for the top corner as soon as it left his boot, with Thibaut Courtois unable to get anywhere near it despite a full stretch dive.

Fermin celebrated wildly and his team-mates matched that energy, while Xavi and his coaching staff were also unable to contain their excitement. A win over Real is always a big deal for Barca, and Fermin underlined that fact by pointing to the club badge when facing up the fans.

He wasn't finished there, either. Barca wrapped up a 3-0 victory in stoppage-time thanks to Ferran Torres, who dinked the ball over Courtois and finished into an empty net after facing onto a brilliantly weighted dinked-pass from Fermin.

The Spaniard made something out of nothing after bringing the ball down in midfield, and pumped his fists in delight after seeing his inventiveness pay off. This was the moment that Fermin truly announced himself as a Barcelona player - and it was no surprise when Xavi singled him out for praise post-match.

“He is a talented footballer — he knows how to leak the last pass, which is what he really lacked last season,” said the Barca boss. “He scored a worldie with his left foot and then assisted Ferran with the right foot, so he can use both feet. He also can play in multiple roles from a winger to a central midfielder. This whole package is not easy to find. I like him a lot. He is full of personality.

“He is hungry and has a great character — that’s very important. When I saw that in training, I realised I had to give him minutes. I trusted him and he is delivering. That’s what football is about."

Fermin was handed his first start for Barca against Milan in their final U.S. tour outing, and once again proved that he is capable of being the driving force in Xavi's line up. La Masia has clearly produced another special player, and Fermin is ready to make his mark.

Fermin is a central midfielder by trade, but he is versatile enough to operate in a No.10 role or as a winger. Although he tends to favour his right foot, he's equally as deadly with his left - as his sublime striker against Real proved.

The Andalucian is intelligent when it comes to his movement off the ball, he boasts an engine that never cuts out and he thrives in one-on-one duels. He's technically brilliant and rarely misplaces a pass, which makes him the ideal fit for Xavi's set-up.

The fact that Fermin managed to record 16 goal contributions for Linares last term highlights how clinical he can be in the final third. He clearly has a great eye for goal and seems to be growing in confidence with each passing game.

Fermin clearly has the ability, charisma and fearlessness needed to become a Barca great. The challenge for him now is to show he can deliver at the highest level week in, week out.

Standing at just 5'9, Fermin has never been the most imposing physical figure on the pitch. He's put on some muscle mass over the past year that has helped him make a bigger impact in matches, but it remains to be seen whether his body will hold up to the demands of La Liga and Champions League football.

When deployed on the left-flank, Fermin has a tendency to cut inside instead of driving down the line, which can also make him a tad predictable at times. But generally, there are very few weaknesses in his game, as Alejandro Balde recently insisted.

“I played with Fermin Lopez for seven years in the academy. He has great quality and a lot of talent,” Balde told reporters in the United States.

Fermin also received a glowing endorsement from Pedri prior to Barca's first game in the United States against Arsenal. "If I had to highlight one of the youngsters? Well, one I really like is Fermin," said Pedri. "I had never played with him before, but he’s full of aggression and talent."

Pedri functions at his very best as a traditional number eight and dictates the pace of games with his exceptional passing range, while Fermin is more explosive and direct. However, they both share a similar level of technical proficiency and sense of imagination.

There are also direct parallels between Pedri's rise into the Barca first team and Fermin's. Doubts were raised about Pedri's physique when he arrived at Camp Nou from Las Palmas in 2020, but he eradicated them by letting his football do the talking.

The scary thing is, Fermin could have an even higher ceiling than Pedri, who won the coveted Golden Boy award at just 18 in 2021. The Masia graduate can decide games on his own with his finishing ability and decision making in the final third.

For that reason, he's also been likened to Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. The England international is a master dribbler who can conjure up a moment of magic from the tightest of spaces, and Fermin is cut from the same cloth.

Barca struggled for goals at times in 2022-23, and Fermin could definitely add a new dimension to their attack, especially with Pedri on hand to break the lines and play him into dangerous areas.

“I still can’t believe it. I have been speaking to my family — they’ve suffered all those years with me. That’s for them and to my people in my hometown, El Campillo. I’m so happy for them too. I can only keep working. Obviously, I want to stay here in Barcelona. It’s a dream and a privilege to be here in the pre-season. I’ve been a Barca fan since I’m a kid.”

Fermin made it very clear that he wants to fight for a spot in the Barca team after his stunning performance against Real Madrid. The 20-year-old starlet has entered the final year of his contract, but an extension will certainly be on the cards if he can reach the same heights in competitive games for the Blaugrana.

Xavi is leaving the door open for Fermin, especially as Barca may struggle to land any more top transfer targets due to their excessive wage bill. "If he stays with us? It depends on him for sure. He can help us. He has to stay with the same mentality," he said last month. "I have never been afraid to use young talent and if he deserves it, he will be there."

Fermin will hope to play a starring role again when Barca take on Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Tuesday, and then the countdown to the start of the new La Liga campaign will begin. Xavi's men will open with a tricky away clash against Getafe on August 13, before hosting Cadiz seven days later.

A new hero could soon be born at Barca. Fermin is the real deal, and there is no limit to what he can achieve. As Xavi alluded to, his destiny is in his hands.