Barcelona young midfielder wants to retire at the club: ‘I am at the best club in the world’ | OneFootball

Young Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has signed a new contract until 2029, and in a candid interview with Jijantes, he revealed his deep emotional connection to the club and his exciting journey from La Masia to the first team.

The 21-year-old spoke passionately about his remarkable summer, which included winning titles with Spain’s youth national team, expressing his desire to now replicate that success with Barcelona.

“It was impossible to imagine what I am experiencing. It is a dream. I have a lot left, I must continue working,” Lopez began, setting the tone for his heartfelt discussion.

“It has been an incredible summer. I have won titles with the national team, and now I want to start winning them with Barça,” he continued, brimming with enthusiasm.

Perhaps most tellingly, Lopez expressed his unwavering commitment to Barcelona. “I am at the best club in the world. At no point did I think about leaving. It is normal to have good competition,” he stated.

“If it were up to me, I would retire at Barça,” the youngster added.

Lopez discussed the sudden spotlight that has accompanied his rise to prominence at Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

“The focus increased and people recognized me more. Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming not being able to do what I used to do. You must be more careful with what you do,” he explained.

“I always try to be nice, but sometimes one’s personal space is not respected,” he added, reflecting on his newfound fame.

Team Spirit and Ambitions

A key part of Barcelona’s future. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Speaking about the team’s young squad, Lopez emphasized their collective spirit. “We are all very young, and on the field, we fight for one another,” he said.

When discussing recent matches against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, he was particularly candid.

“Some thought that against the big teams we would not perform at the required level. We suffered against Bayern, but they are a very good team. What happened on Saturday at the Bernabéu definitely fired me up a bit more,” he noted.

Lopez shared interesting observations about his teammates and the team’s tactical approach, in particular the offside trap which is working very well for Barcelona.

“The offside trap? We train it a lot. The line of four has been incredible. It is risky, but it is very well worked,” he explained.

When asked about becoming a starter, he quipped, “When will I know I’m going to be a starter? I’m not going to tell you that [with a laugh]. Until the manager gives the lineup and tells us on the Sunday before the match.”

He revealed that Frenkie de Jong most surprised him when he first joined the first team, and defended Raphinha, stating,

“Raphinha is the same as last season, but he was criticized a lot.”

With excitement about the club’s future, López also spoke enthusiastically about the fans and the new stadium.

“This year we noticed that the people are completely behind us. We try to give something back on the field, and so far it is going well. The new Camp Nou will be spectacular. I saw the model yesterday during the renewal,” he concluded.