Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez has shed light on his decision to turn down a summer transfer to Premier League giants Chelsea, insisting that his long-term priority has always been to succeed at the Catalan club.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who rose through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy after joining at the age of 12, was strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge during the recently concluded transfer window. Despite Chelsea’s reported interest, Lopez opted to remain at Camp Nou.
Speaking to TouchlineX, Lopez explained his stance:“ The Chelsea offer? In the end, my priority has always been to stay at Barça. I came here when I was 12 years old. It’s always nice to have another club interested in you, but I always had the idea of continuing at Barça and succeeding here.”
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Lopez, whose current contract with Barcelona runs until 2029, has been regarded as one of the key emerging talents in Hansi Flick’s squad. The German manager has already expressed confidence in the midfielder’s potential and recently addressed speculation surrounding Chelsea’s pursuit of him.
Lopez’s decision comes at a time when Barcelona continues its rebuilding project under Flick, with the club emphasizing homegrown talent as part of its long-term strategy.
For Chelsea, the failure to lure the Spanish starlet highlights the challenges the club faces in securing young continental prospects amid stiff competition from their parent clubs.