Fermín López faced one of his toughest days this week since making his debut with the first team last season. The one from El Campillo suffered a relapse of his right thigh injury when his return to action was expected in the Champions League debut against Monaco. This implies a new absence for three weeks that adds to those of Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and four other injuries that the club has suffered since the beginning of the preseason.
After being transferred to the Ciutat Esportiva infirmary on Tuesday, the footballer collapsed emotionally and the squad made a gesture that the '16' will not forget. His colleagues interrupted the session to support him while he received the necessary medical attention. Gavi was the first to support him, being one of those who best understands the feelings of the Huelva player after the severe injury suffered in 2023 that has left him without playing for almost a year.
The rest of the squad and the coaching staff also joined in pampering Fermín, who hopes to be ready to reappear after the next international break. The injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh will lead Barça to take his return with maximum caution, since Hansi Flick himself admitted feeling "guilty" for not avoiding his trip to the Spanish U-21 team on the last FIFA Date, where they started the physical problems of the 21-year-old footballer.
Fermín López, convinced of his place at Barça
Beyond missing seven Barça games, López hopes to recover his best version to help Barça in October, in a key stretch of the season that will include the first Clásico of the season and a high-voltage duel against Bayern Munich for the Champions League. The '16' knows that the tough competition in the Barça midfield forces him to start from the bench, but he will continue to be important for the coach as a catalyst and, in such a long and demanding season, everyone will have opportunities to be protagonists, even more when it comes to a player with as much quality and goal as the brand new Olympic and European champion.