Fermin Lopez set for first-team role at Barcelona this season

Barcelona head coach Xavi has revealed that he has first-team plans for Fermin Lopez this season.

The 20-year-old made the move to the Catalan giants from Real Betis in 2016, progressing through the various youth teams at the club, before signing a professional contract last August.

Lopez spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan with Linares Deportivo in the third tier of Spanish football, scoring 12 goals and registering four assists in 40 appearances for the club.

There has been speculation surrounding the Spaniard this summer, but Xavi has confirmed that he will be remaining with the first-team squad during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lopez made a strong impression in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday, finding the back of the net in the 85th minute after appearing off the bench.

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"Fermin Lopez? We don't have exceptions for players. He trained really well for this day. We think he can help us throughout this season," Xavi told reporters after the match.

"Fermin Lopez will not leave on loan. He will stay this season with the first team."

Xavi also stressed the importance of more signings arriving this summer, with the manager looking to add to the three players that have already made the move to the club in the current market.

Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan have arrived on free transfers this summer, while Oriol Romeu has been brought back to the club from Girona.

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"Oriol Romeu is a great signing, he is a leader, and he wins duels," Xavi added. "We need more signings. [Joan] Laporta and Mateu [Alemany] know that."

The Barcelona head coach also opened up on his team's preparations for the new season, having lost 5-3 to Arsenal before the three-goal success over Real Madrid.

"We know how it goes, one day we are a disaster and today we are the best club in the world, that's the Barca environment and that's who we are as Culers.

"Neither one thing nor the other, we've had some good moments but we need to be better."

Barcelona will continue their preparations for the new campaign against AC Milan on Tuesday evening before facing Tottenham Hotspur in the Joan Gamper Trophy final on August 8.