Fermín has to go through the operating room and misses the World Cup

BarcelonaThe Barça-Betis match on Sunday was supposed to be a fantastic farewell party at Camp Nou. The team, already champions, were playing their last game at the stadium, where they were set to achieve their 19th victory, thus completing a perfect home season, a feat never before accomplished in the league tournament. Beyond the three points, which would eventually come with a 3-1 win, several players were receiving awards accrediting them as members of the competition's ideal eleven. And the main event was Robert Lewandowski's farewell, who was saying goodbye with full honors after four years wearing the blaugrana. Nothing suggested that anything could go wrong, until yesterday morning Fermín López went through the blaugrana medical center.

The news couldn't be worse for the midfielder from El Campillo, who was diagnosed by doctors with a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. The footballer was substituted at halftime, a change that was interpreted at the time as a simple rotation by Hansi Flick. The reality is that he had felt discomfort, although it wasn't given much importance at first. It was later that alarms went off, and the negative forecasts were confirmed with the medical statement issued by the blaugrana squad, explaining that he will have to undergo surgery. Or, in other words, that he will miss the World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

In the text, Barça did not specify the layoff period, but the fact that surgery is needed –conservative treatment could not be performed– prolongs the recovery process, which in these cases is between two and three months, traumatologists consulted tell el ARA. Therefore, he will not make it to the World Cup event which starts in just three weeks. A very significant loss for Luis de la Fuente, who loses an attacking reference. And it is that Fermín was in a very sweet footballing moment.

The news was a cold shower for everyone. Starting with the player, who was "very down", and who yesterday received support from his teammates and the coach, among others. Fermín had not only earned a place in the Spanish coach's squad for the World Cup, but he had many chances of being a starter in the tournament. For now, there is still no date or place for the surgery, which will be done as soon as possible. Barça is confident that he can start preseason in the second half of July and be fully recovered for the start of the 26/27 League, which will kick off in mid-August.

Author of 13 goals and 17 assists, Fermín López had earned a preferential place in Barça's starting eleven, where he could play as an attacking midfielder or as a left winger, a position he has often occupied while Raphinha was out, even ahead of Rashford, the theoretical specialist on the left wing of the attack. A season that began with the footballer from El Campillo rejecting a juicy offer from Chelsea to continue as a blaugrana, and which continued in January with the signing of a renewal until 2031 that he had earned on the pitch, with a release clause of 500 million euros and a salary that placed him in the upper-middle part of the locker room's wage scale.

At 23 years old, and after being crowned champion of the Eurocup and winning Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, Fermín López was preparing to play in his first senior World Cup. De la Fuente, who also contacted the midfielder to encourage him, will have to find him a replacement, although it is not easy to find such complete players who have attacking flair and goals, but who are also committed in defense. On the list of midfielders should be, in addition to the also blaugrana Pedri and Olmo, Rodrigo, Zubimendi, and Fabián Ruiz. The other name, according to media that usually follow the "roja", the best positioned to play in his place is Alberto Moleiro, from Villarreal, who would be called up for the international squad for the first time. Another option, that of Ander Barrenetxea from San Sebastian, also dropped out of the list due to injury. The coach has to make a decision before May 25.