Barcelona have produced several talented youngsters over the years to aid their cause. Some arrive directly developed from the La Masia academy, while others are dynamics performers of the subsidiary. Regardless of their origins, they are there to help Barcelona progress and evolve.
This ongoing season has already seen what these youngsters can do for Barcelona. Many iconic moments have become immortalized with said youngsters, and they don’t look like stopping any time soon. The latest performer to steal the show despite his tender age is none other than Fermin Lopez.
One-man army
As highlighted by SPORT, 20-year-old Fermin Lopez was the man of the moment against Shakhtar Donetsk. Representing Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, the La Masia prodigy almost became a one-man army during the game.
The first goal of the game came as a result of his run and his rebounding strike. Not too long after, the player’s determination to score landed him a goal for him. Tiptoeing and cutting to the right just outside the box, he let loose a vicious strike that saw itself smash itself against the top post and quickly find itself in the back of the net.
Goals and Positions
Speaking after the game with Movistar+, Fermin acknowledged the victory’s importance itself. He carried on the words of Xavi Hernandez and even admitted his joy over scoring his first-ever Champions League goal:
“It has been a tough match, it was hard-fought, but in the end, we are happy with the victory. The coach made it clear to us from the very beginning that it was a crucial match to secure the qualification. We now have nine points, and personally, I am pleased to have been able to help the team with the goal.”
He was also questioned about his preference in terms of role and position within the team. Having played as a false winger, a false nine, and now as an interior, the 20-year-old definitely has the trait of versatility in his game:
I feel comfortable playing from the inside, whether it’s on the right or on the left.”
Apart from the goals that he was involved in, Fermin also kept Shakhtar completely petrified on his own. A great header of his went straight into the net but was not awarded as a goal because of a slight offside. Even apart from that, several of his powerful strikes hit the woodwork and kept Ukrainian hearts pounding.
Dream come true
Awarded the Man of the Match (MVP) award, the player’s journey this season has been nothing short of a fairytale. Previously on loan at Linares, he managed to catch the eye of Xavi Hernandez during pre-season.
Moving forward, he has scared the likes of Real Madrid and many opponents ever since. He acknowledged this faith in him by Xavi and was determined to show that this is his life’s work and he intends to make it count:
“You never expect it, but it’s what I’ve been working for all my life; I thank Xavi and the club for their trust.”
El Clasico awaits
Next up for FC Barcelona is a visit from Real Madrid on the 28th of October. El Clasico is scheduled to take place at the Montjuic Stadium and the stakes for their league encounter are definitely high. Fermin Lopez could end up playing a crucial role, but so could many others. It will be a true test for both Clasico rivals as they get ready to lock horns once again.
