Why Barcelona would be mad to sell Fermin Lopez

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Brilliant all-rounder

Two transfer windows for the price of one this summer, which gives Barcelona’s board either an extra incentive to get things right or another window where they can royally mess things up once again.

It’s clear that things still aren’t back to normal, even if the financial situation is much healthier now than a few summers ago.

Spending still has to be frugal, unfortunately, and all transfers - both incoming and outgoing - have to be considered on their merits.

To that end, despite the noises coming out of the club, and with the possible exception of Lamine Yamal, no player is safe from being one step away from a new club.

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In an ideal world no consideration would be given to certain players leaving, but Barcelona are operating in the real world not an imagined one.

To that end, you can’t really blame Chelsea for trying to engineer a move for Fermin Lopez, or Aston Villa for their reported interest.

That the Blues were trying to dangle a tempting carrot in the form of Christopher Nkunku is laughable though.

The striker endured an awful 2024/25 season at Stamford Bridge, scoring just seven goals and providing two assists.

For a player that arrived in west London from RB Leipzig and was ‘highly rated,’ either Chelsea didn’t do their due diligence, or Nkunku is a dud. No other word for it.

It’s true that Enzo Maresca preferred Nico Jackson to lead the line for his team, but it was Nkunku who made that an easy decision for the manager because of his own lack of application and execution.

Fermin is an altogether different player.

Fermin Lopez ⚽️⚽️ ️ pic.twitter.com/UQA7KlUgKp

— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_tr) January 26, 2025

As energetic as they come - and like Gavi, sometimes too energetic - one certainly can’t fault Fermin for effort.

A player who is always looking to drive forward from midfield, he associates well with attacking colleagues and isn’t frightened to shoot on sight if an opportunity presents itself.

Much like Nkunku, he had to make do with a bit part role last season, but still managed to score eight goals and nine assists.

The only way he leaves Barcelona is if he specifically goes to Hansi Flick and demands a move to a club that will offer him more playing time.

Assuming that Fermin is willing to knuckle down again for at least another season, the only conundrum for Flick is then how to integrate the player more fully across the 2025/26 campaign.

Source: barcablaugranes.com