Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Barcelona, Real Madrid, El Clasico
Josh Lawless
A new surprise star has emerged at Barcelona, with 20-year-old Fermin Lopez named as the player who has made the biggest impression on Xavi and the first-team squad in pre-season.
Lopez was a surprise inclusion for the tour of the United States, having been one of 12 players to graduate from the academy to the first-team side for pre-season preparations.
A Barca player since he was 15, he spent last season on loan at Linares Deportivo in the Spanish third division scored 12 times in 40 games.
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He was initially not supposed to be training with the first-team according to The Athletic.
Last season he was struggling with the club's B team during pre-season but fast forward a year and he now looks set to be a regular for the Blaugrana going forward after sparkling across the pond.
Lopez was the only youth player to feature in both lineups in either half during the friendly against Arsenal and he then produced a stunning 25-minute cameo in the 3-0 El Clasico win against Real Madrid at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
In front of a record 82,026 fans, he scored an outrageous left-footed strike that flew past Thibaut Courtois and then moments later, he laid on a delicate assist for Ferran Torres to make it 3-0 in the 91st minute.
Xavi is believed to be in love with Lopez, another La Masia product, and felt he had to pick him for the tour after liking what he saw in training sessions.
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And he is now fully prepared to make him a permanent member of the first-team for Barca's upcoming defence of their La Liga crown.
Speaking to reporters, Xavi said: “With the staff we don’t look at age. We’ve seen him very comfortable and I think he can help us,” he told reporters.
“Fermín is player with great talent, two feet and an ability to play the final pass. He is only 20 years old but he has plenty of character.
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“He’s a player I like and that final pass is something we lacked a little bit last season. He is not afraid, he wants the ball and he keeps it simple. When I see that in training then I have to give him minutes for his confidence.
“He has scored a great goal with his left foot and has given an assist with his right. He is a footballer we believe could help us a lot through the season."