Fermín López: 'Worst summer' after injury derailed peak form

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Fermín López has described the past summer as the worst of his career, after a muscle injury struck just as he felt he was reaching peak form. In an interview with Catalunya Radio, the 21-year-old opened up about the physical and emotional toll of the setback.

Injury at the worst moment

“It’s been the worst summer, for sure. Everything was going well… I was feeling in the peak of my form and then the injury arrived,” López told the radio station. The injury forced him to miss Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, a tournament in which he had hoped to play a key role.

“At first, I couldn’t watch the Spain matches. It was tough because I also wanted to be there and play, since I was in my best form,” he admitted. However, he later found solace in the team’s success: “But the win meant a lot to me too. This is my country and those are my teammates, especially the Barcelona players there.”

Learning from adversity

Despite the disappointment, López said the experience taught him valuable lessons. “It also taught me a lot, I learned a lot… but this setback had really hit me hard. I have to admit that,” he said. The midfielder, who broke into Barcelona’s first team last season, is now focused on returning stronger.

“The goal is to return from this injury with a strong motivation, and I believe I am completely ready. Last season, I showed my value and what I can offer to the team. And this season, I must continue to develop and play at the same level as last season,” López stated.

López’s emergence last season was one of Barcelona’s bright spots, as he contributed goals and energy from midfield. His absence during pre-season has been a blow for new coach Hansi Flick, but the player’s determination suggests he could quickly regain his place once fit.