With the mid-season break underway, FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez is again in his hometown of El Campillo to spend Christmas with household and associates.
Throughout his go to to his native, the 22-year-old La Masia graduate additionally occurred to sit down down for an intensive interview with , throughout which he mentioned a plethora of subjects, starting from his learnings in 2025 to his targets for 2026.
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Fermin displays on his 12 months
Kicking issues off, Fermin touched upon what the 12 months 2025 had meant for him, saying:
“I’ve discovered many issues, I’ve loved myself rather a lot, now we have gained many titles, the primary ones I’ve gained with Barça. And in addition with the nationwide group. I’ve fulfilled many goals this 12 months, and I’ve discovered rather a lot as properly.”
“I hope 2026 is similar and even higher,” he added.
The La Masia product mirrored on his journey at Barcelona up to now and the way shortly all the pieces has modified in a brief area of time.
“On a private degree, I believe I’m a bit extra mature. I’m nonetheless younger, and I nonetheless have many issues to expertise, however my life has gone so quick that I believe I’ve needed to mature sooner than anticipated, and that’s the change from the previous Fermin to the present one.”
The midfielder admitted that processing so many adjustments in a single 12 months was not all the time simple, as he famous:
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“It’s troublesome as a result of all the pieces occurs so quick and so many issues occur. It isn’t that you don’t worth it, however you would not have time to worth it as a result of you don’t cease to consider what is going on to you and what you’re attaining.
“Typically, when I’m at residence, I take into consideration what has occurred, and I realise that I’ve fulfilled my dream.”
Persevering with, he added: “Many instances I don’t take into consideration something. As I expertise it nearly on daily basis, taking part in with the primary group, scoring targets, I don’t cease to assume.
“However generally I’m in mattress, and I believe, ‘bloody hell, two and a half or three years in the past I used to be at Linares, now I’m within the first group, and I’ve gained I have no idea what number of titles and there’s nonetheless extra to return.’”
On the highs and lows of 2025
The 12 months 2025 has been a memorable one for Fermin, having been a part of the group that gained the home treble in Spain. So, when requested to decide on probably the most memorable second for him this 12 months, the teenager replied:
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“Someday I actually loved was the victory parade. For me, I can’t even describe it. I went loopy, I didn’t cease singing and leaping.
“I noticed individuals crying, with the joy of getting gained three titles after years with out successful so many. It was probably the greatest moments of 2025, no doubt.”
Fermin has loved a memorable 2025. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
On the similar time, there have been some troublesome moments for Barcelona through the 12 months, with the Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan being maybe the toughest one. Reflecting on that, Fermin remarked:
“That day in Milan was very powerful, and the times after as properly. There was numerous pleasure from everybody: from us, from the membership, from the supporters.
“And to see how all the pieces slipped away in such a short while, and the possibility to be in a Champions League last, harm us rather a lot.”
Moderately than discouraging them, that disappointment has grow to be gas for the long run, with Fermin and Barcelona aiming to go all the best way in Europe this time round.
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“We’re very aggressive and we’re going to strive once more. There’s nonetheless a protracted option to go and we’re taking it step-by-step, however we need to attain the ultimate and win it. Hopefully it is going to occur. We have now that dream, that objective of successful the Champions League.”
On Hansi Flick and his position
Speaking about Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick and the way the group has grow to be so aggressive underneath him, Fermin defined:
“The supervisor’s message could be very constructive, and that’s important. Whether or not issues are going properly or badly, his message is all the time one in every of calm, of staying on our path and doing what he asks of us, what we all know find out how to do.
“Above all, of sticking collectively. The message within the dressing room is evident, and all of us really feel the identical method; we’re all on this collectively.”
On a person degree, he enjoys the clear steering and confidence proven in him by Flick, as he mentioned:
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“He asks me for depth, urgent, being vertical, having calm on the ball, not shedding possession, stepping into the field, capturing. The sport I’ve all the time tried to play. And he offers you that confidence, and I really feel very comfy with him.”
Fermin enjoys Flick’s full confidence. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
, with Fermin having needed to essay numerous roles this season.
“Truthfully, simply taking part in is sufficient for me. Proper wing, striker like the opposite day, on the left, as an attacking midfielder. However sure, the place I really feel most comfy is as a quantity ten, as a result of that’s the place I can finest exploit my qualities,” he mentioned on the matter.
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There’s intense competitors within the squad, particularly in relation to his place, and Fermin believes that it’s wholesome for the group and retains pushing everybody to do their finest.
“Competitors on a human degree is managed very properly. The coach decides who performs and there’s no unhealthy ambiance. No one falls out with anybody as a result of they play in the identical place,” he acknowledged.
“Each participant tries to do their finest in coaching and matches to earn minutes, and in the long run, the coach decides. Internally, that makes you a greater group.”
On the group’s type, teammates
Requested whether or not Barcelona can compete for all the pieces once more, Fermin was assured, as he mentioned:
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“I believe so. Aside from one or two reinforcements, we’re virtually the identical squad as final 12 months, and now we’re in an excellent run once more, successful many matches in a row. This group, with the squad now we have, has to goal for all the pieces.”
The attacking midfielder pointed to the losses in opposition to Actual Madrid and Chelsea as turning factors which have formed the group for the higher.
“The Clasico defeat and the one in London have been turning factors for the group. They’re matches you possibly can lose, and it’s true that we have been inferior to we often are,” mentioned Fermin.
“However since these days, the group has taken a step ahead, returning to what we have been final 12 months. We’re in an excellent dynamic, and we hope it lasts till the tip.”
Fermin additionally accepted that dips in type are inevitable over a protracted season, saying: “You can’t be at your finest on a regular basis. After all, we strive, and that’s what we wish, however there’s all the time a match the place you aren’t on the degree, and issues don’t work.
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“Have a look at final 12 months in November. We had a run the place we weren’t good, however we ended up successful the league, the cup and the Tremendous Cup. This stuff occur throughout a season, however the vital factor is to remain united and react.”
The return of key gamers has additionally made a distinction, notably one – Raphinha, with Fermin acknowledging as a lot.
“He has monumental power, and he transmits it to the group. When he’s on the pitch and also you see how he presses, how he makes runs, the depth in each motion, it spreads to the teammates, and all of us go along with the identical power,” he acknowledged.
“After all, it was noticeable when he was not there, he’s a vital participant.”
Fermin acknowledges Raphinha’s significance to the group. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
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Fermin additionally admitted that taking part in alongside world-class gamers like Raphinha, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal makes all the pieces simpler.
“Surrounded by nice gamers like them, it’s simpler in your sport to face out. They’re superb, they’re gifted, and for your self it is rather simple to play with them.”
On whether or not Barcelona at the moment are favourites in La Liga, having opened up a four-point lead over Actual Madrid, he mentioned:
“I don’t like that concept of being favourites or evaluating ourselves with others. We don’t have a look at the others, we deal with doing issues properly.
“Clearly Madrid are our nice rivals, but when we preserve our degree and do issues correctly, the outcomes will come on the finish of the 12 months.”
Needs for 2026
Wanting forward on the new 12 months, Fermin’s needs for the long run are clear: “I need 2026 to be the identical or higher than 2025, to win many titles and the Champions League. And naturally, additionally the World Cup.”
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On whether or not the Champions League is the title that each participant aspires to win, the Barcelona teenager exclaimed:
“I don’t know if it’s the perfect, nevertheless it’s true that it has one thing particular that everybody desires. The membership hasn’t been in a position to win it for a few years, and it’s a dream that everybody has.
“And the followers consider we’re able to successful it. That helps, and we’re going to strive in 2026.”
Final season bolstered that perception, he added: “Sure, possibly it did. We have been seconds away from being within the last and we might have gained it. That additionally gave us energy, regardless of the troublesome second, to know that we’re succesful and might strive once more.”
As for his long-term future, Fermin leaves little doubt, reaffirming his intention to remain at Barcelona for a very long time.
“Sure. I hope so,” he mentioned.