Fermin Lopez interview: 'It's hard to keep your feet on the ground'

The road to the Barça first team is travelled differently by each player who arrives at his destination. Not a single one of them has it easy, but some more than others. The case of Fermín López is that of a stubborn child, in love with the ball itself even more than with football, a good student, introduced to it by his uncle Juan, known as 'Miri', short for Maradona, who also played football very well and is his mother's brother. 

It is the story of a son whose father allowed him to enjoy himself on the pitch in exchange for continuing his education. Fermín López is this season's revelation at Barça, the club he always dreamed of playing for, and it is clear to him that this has only just begun. Sincere, orderly, and offering pleasant conversation, the player from El Campillo (Huelva) tells SPORT about the road he has travelled to defend the badge with which he has shared his life trajectory.

Born in El Campillo?

No, in Minas de Riotinto, where the hospital is, which is about five kilometres away.

Well, that's circumstantial. I'll ask it another way. From El Campillo?

Yes, I lived there until I was thirteen.

What do you remember from that time?

Well, my life was that of a normal boy. I went to school in the morning, with my friends, my lifelong friends. And then, in the afternoons, I remember, I did private classes, from three to five or so. My parents put me with a friend of my mother's... And then football, you know, football, just football, the football pitch, the school tracks, the square... My life was school, football, school and football. 

Were you a good student?

Yes.

And why did you do private lessons?

Because my father was always a bit demanding in that area and he used to put me there to get more marks, but it's true that I was a good student and I'm very diligent.

Have you also noticed that same demanding character with your football 'studies'?

My parents didn't get involved much in football either. The truth is that I never had that pressure. I put it on myself, I was very demanding of myself. In football I've always been a bit of a perfectionist. Well, in the right measure because otherwise it can play a dirty trick on you.

In what way are you a perfectionist?

Because I like to get everything right. I like it to go the way I think it should go, or the way I expect it to go...

Are you satisfied now?

Yes, well, now you can see the reward, but it's true that some time ago I wouldn't have imagined it because of everything I've been through and the way things used to be.

What do you remember from your childhood in El Campillo? What do you remember from when you played football in the village?

I didn't think about anything. I was playing there, flowing, enjoying myself with my friends and I don't know, I didn't think about anything. I didn't have any pressure, or anything external to distract me. Just football and that was it.

After a year at Recreativo and four at Betis, did things change?

In what sense?

In the sense of pressure.

No, no, the truth is that I was little, I was at benjamín and alevín level and no, it didn't change anything. It was the same. I was still there, doing my own thing, my own football and I did quite well there too.

You played together with Gavi at Betis.

Yes, yes. We weren't in the same team because he is a year younger than me, but it's true that we used to see each other in the changing rooms.

Gavi went to Barça before you. Do you remember the first time you were told that Barça wanted you?

Well... I remember it was my father, once in the car... He was kind of probing me, wasn't he? Sometimes he said to me: "Hey Fer, and if Barça or Madrid come, what shall we do? At that time there was already interest in me and of course, they asked me my opinion, if I wanted to leave... Until one day he told me that Barça wanted me and what should we do? 

What did you say?

I said "dad, dad, we're leaving, we're leaving". I didn't think about it. It's true that later, as time went by and the time to leave approached, I had a hard time because I was very young and I didn't want to be separated from my parents, my friends... But what I have experienced here, entering La Masia, even though I was very young, I wouldn't change it for anything.

What made you take the step?

I've been a culé for as long as I've had a conscience. My idols were Messi and Iniesta and I always wore the Barça shirt. And when I was presented with this, the first answer was yes.

Did you visit La Masia before you started living there?

Yes, I came here I think around May or June, I came once with my parents and I was around the Ciutat Esportiva, with Roura and Altimira, who were the bosses at the time. I saw La Masia and they explained to me how everything was going. 

And once you were here?

Well, the first year, above all, I continued to enjoy football. It was a bit different because it was 11-a-side football and it's true that I was small and it was a bit harder for me, but the first year I enjoyed it a lot. But the following years, as a cadet... It was harder, because, not because of pressure, but because I wasn't doing well... My growth was very late and it's true that, at that time, it was difficult to trust myself and play, but, well, it was a stage that I learnt and it's now over.

Did that make you stronger?

A lot. It was hard for me. It was still hard to control that frustration, but well, when I went to Linares I had a change of scenery and it helped me to control that frustration and I'm stronger now than before.

It must not have been easy.

Yes, especially as a child. I was a very, very sensitive boy, always very transparent. You can see it all in my face, in my eyes... And it's true that I wasn't there, that I didn't enjoy it. I always liked training and there were times when the training was over and I didn't enjoy it. I trained because I had to come here and that was it.

Barça is a 'shredder' in grassroots football, but they were very patient with you.

I've always felt that support, from Roura, from Altimira... They told me to be patient, that my physical condition was going to get the better of me, that I should learn, that I should improve and that one day I would change and that my strength would even out. And that's when everything I had learnt would come out, everything I had improved. 

"Football is played with your feet and you think with your head". 

Yes, but you're Barça and in those lower categories you also want to win. And I cried because that part is a little bit left aside, but well, it's over now. 

When did you make your breakthrough?

I started in the quarentine. I think I grew eight or ten centimetres all at once, yes. As a second or third year youth player. And in Linares too, that's where I grew into what I am now. 

    

You went to Linares on loan. Why did you do that?

It was a very difficult decision because I always wanted to be here and to see that you have to leave, even if it was on loan... But well, they told me that I wasn't going to have many minutes in the reserve team and that the best thing was for me to go on loan and I looked for the best solution, which was Linares. And the truth is that I did very well there.

You enjoyed it.

Very much. I always say it, there in Linares they helped me to make that leap. Both the fans and the staff there: Alberto, Enrique, Juanjo, the team mates, there were people like Lolo, Rodri, Hugo... And they helped me a lot. They helped me a lot.

One step back to take two steps forward.

Well, a bit yes. In the end, not everyone would take that step back and go with the predisposition that I went to Linares with, but that's the way I am and thank God things went well.

From Linares to Barça.

I remember that I arrived here in the summer, the pre-season was coming and the coordinators met with me. They told me that I was going to spend the first week with Xavi and that they would decide whether I would go on tour or return to Barça Atlètic. And in training, it's true that I was feeling good. I tried to do my best, Xavi noticed me and wanted to take me on the tour.

How did you earn it?

Well, I don't know, in the end I tried to do what I've always done, my game, my way of understanding the game... And that helped me to get the opportunity. 

Is it a big deal to play alongside De Jong, Lewandowski, Gündogan... and be yourself?

The truth is that at the beginning it was like... Wow, you get to the dressing room with people who are the best in the world and at the beginning it was difficult for me, but when I was on the pitch I didn't pay attention to that, I was focused on football and I wasn't very impressed, I wasn't distracted.

And when they tell you that you are going on the tour?

I rushed to my parents to tell them because I wasn't expecting it. Other team-mates had already known before, but it came as a surprise. When they told me, I was very happy.

And then came the Clásico.

I started the match on the bench and the truth is that I didn't expect to go out because it was a Clasico and there are no friendlies there, you have to go and win it with everything. But suddenly Oscar sent me and Raphinha to warm up. That's when I became a bit alert. We didn't warm up for long, six minutes, and they told us to come on. Xavi helped me to be calmer...

What did he tell you?

To have personality, to try, make the last pass... In the end it worked out well.

A bit more than fine. 

Yes, I remember Sergi Roberto recovering the ball, he gave it to me, I drove forward and I didn't see a pass or anything. I saw the goal and I hit it, I hit it really hard and it was well-directed and Courtois couldn't stop it.

When you see yourself playing in Montjuïc, maybe next year at the Camp Nou... Does it feel like everything has happened quickly?

It seems so, but it's true that it's been a hard, slow process... But well, in the end the opportunity came. I always say it with my father, we look back and the truth is that a year ago we couldn't imagine living what I'm living and now there's nothing left to do but keep working and go for more.     

    

Is it easy to keep your feet on the ground?

Well, it's not easy because, in the end, there are many external factors that can influence you to not have that discipline or those feet on the ground, as they say. But I think that my father, my family, have never been like that and I don't think that will ever, ever happen to me, otherwise my father will be there to give me a hard time.

How would you like to see yourself in a few years' time?

Well, I'd like to be in the first team, to continue here. The more years the better. I hope I can always be here, but well, you never know. It's the best club in the world and every year the best come here. You never know.

What does a footballer from La Masia have that those from outside don't have?

Well, I would say the DNA of Barça, which is said a lot. In the end, the coaches teach us or help us to get to the first team, they teach us how they train in the first team, the model of play, how to shape up with the ball... And in the end, I don't think you have that everywhere, you don't have it anywhere.