Barcelona academy graduate admits he would like to see Xavi stay at the club

Barcelona’s factory of talents, La Masia, has once again proven to be a saving grace this season, with underwhelming results overshadowed by the assurance that a bright future awaits.

One of the youth academy prospects to gain prominence with the first team this season has been Fermin Lopez.

The Spanish midfielder immediately made his mark in the pre-season by scoring a scrumptious strike from range against Real Madrid, and he has enjoyed minutes sporadically with the first team.

Speaking to TVE (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Fermin touched upon the future of coach Xavi Hernandez as well as Barcelona’s position in the league standings.

Unwilling to bid farewell

Xavi’s decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season came across as a shock to both fans and players alike, after a defeat against Villarreal turned out to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Fermin Lopez commented on his decision to part ways with the Catalan giants, stating he would like him to stay and is grateful for his trust.

“It is a personal decision, which he thought was appropriate, but he trusted me from the beginning, and of course, I would like him to stay,” Fermin professed.

Xavi will be leaving at the end of the season. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

While reports recently surfaced claiming that Barcelona are attempting to convince Xavi to stay at the club, it appears the manager has made up his mind and will not stick around.

All hope is not lost

Barcelona find themselves trailing behind Real Madrid by eight points, but their form in recent weeks has showcased a positive trajectory.

In fact, Fermin was the scorer of Barcelona’s fourth goal against Getafe most recently.

The 20-year-old exclaimed that the Blaugranes are not ready to throw in the towel just yet and would compete till the very end.

“We are playing good games now; we are in good momentum; we have to continue like this and compete until the end,” he said.