Xavi turned down Barcelona starlet’s request to play for the reserves last weekend
As was the case with Gavi a couple of years ago and Alejandro Balde last season, Barcelona seem to have unearthed a few more gems from their academy once again this term.
Lamine Yamal has been the breakout star of the season despite being just 16 years old. Along with him, though, a certain Fermin Lopez is also slowly but surely carving out a place for himself in the first-team setup under Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi refused Fermin’s request to play for Barça Atletic
The 20-year-old Fermin made his first-team debut for Barcelona this season after making an impression during the pre-season tour of the USA.
However, game-time has not been entirely forthcoming for the La Masia graduate which is why he had gone down to play for Barça Atletic during the international break, although it saw him getting sent off against Gimnastic.
Following the international break, Fermin did not have more minutes with the senior team, which prompted him to request Xavi to let him play for the reserves this past weekend.
Indeed, as per Mundo Deportivo, the young midfielder asked Xavi if he could play for Barça Atletic against Tarazona this past Sunday after being an unused substitute during the first team’s 3-2 win over Celta Vigo.
But Xavi, who had been happy to let Fermin play for Rafa Marquez’s side during the international break, denied the request this time around as he needed the youngster in the squad after the injury to Frenkie de Jong against Celta Vigo.
Salvaging a point against Mallorca
With the injuries to Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, Xavi is likely to rely more on Fermin in the coming weeks as was already seen during the game against Mallorca on Tuesday.
Having come on as a substitute in the second period, the 20-year-old scored the equalising goal for Barcelona – his first for the senior team, helping them to a 2-2 draw so that they did not return empty-handed from Son Moix.
Fermin is seen as the fifth-choice option in the interior midfield positions at Barça, with Sergi Roberto also behind him now.
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