- Chelsea were keen to sign Fermin
- Spaniard rejected the Blues' proposal
- Reveals who influenced him to stay
AFPFermin Lopez reveals which Barcelona players pressured him to reject Chelsea offer with injured captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen leading the charge
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Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.
Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.
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Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In the final week of the transfer window, Chelsea pushed hard to sign Fermin and officially tabled a bid worth €40 million (£34m/$46m) plus add-ons. Barcelona were reportedly unhappy with the proposal and demanded €90m (£78m/$105m) instead. The Catalans would have considered a sale if the 22-year-old forced the issue, but he says leaving his boyhood club was never in question.
WHAT NEXT FOR FERMIN LOPEZ?
It remains to be seen whether Fermin can earn prominence at Barca this season. The youngster will have to fight for minutes with Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Gavi, as well as summer arrival Marcus Rashford. Increased competition seemed to have enticed Fermin to consider a move to the Premier League, but head coach Hansi Flick has always maintained that the midfielder was crucial for him. Although he has a contract until 2029, Fermin didn't rule out a departure before his deal expires. "You never know what the future holds," he said. "There are things you can't control, but yes, yes, I see myself fulfilling my promise and hopefully many years here at Barca."
Fermin has been called up by Luis de la Fuente for Spain's upcoming World Cup qualifiers. As for the Blaugrana, they will play their next game on September 14 against Valencia.
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