Time to put some respect on the name Fermin Lopez

Some players simply have instinct in front of goal.

Fermin Lopez is one of those players. And it’s a quality that Barcelona will need going into next season.

Robert Lewandowski has done his job this season. He’s right there in the middle of the Pichichi race down the stretch of the season.

Raphinha has proven to be more proficient of late as a creator, rather than a goal scorer. Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank continues to come into his own, and could soon break out as a finisher. Meanwhile, Ferran Torres continues to be a cautionary tale for future Barcelona signings.

Of the midfielders, Pedri and Gavi, who will certainly both be back next season, and penciled in as starters, have goals in them. Frenkie de Jong as well if he returns. But none of them has the natural killer instinct that Fermin has.

From the beginning, that had to be the quality that Xavi saw in preseason that persuaded him to offer Fermin a surprise spot on the roster.

As a viewer, that’s certainly one of the first things I noticed. Fermin doesn’t hesitate. He does the work through the midfield, and is hungry to get into the box.

Against Almeria, I loved seeing him play alongside Pedri. Together, you have an on the ball midfielder, with a player who thrives with work rate off the ball.

Thunder and lightning.

Fermin also makes Lewandowski a better player. Opposing teams are starting to realize that when Fermin plays, you have to mark him.

Once again, he made a decisive run into the box, and showed perfect technique with the goal by putting the header into the ground. Fermin is an aerial threat.

On a side note, Hector Fort keeps proving he can provide service, in addition to being strong defensively. Fullbacks don’t grow on trees, so Barcelona should recognize they really have a good one on their hands.

On the second goal, Fermin demonstrated again that he does things his teammates simply don’t do. Movement off the ball, and timing out a run in the box.

This is not an anomaly.

Even when Fermin isn’t scoring, he provides danger with his movement. In any given game you find him in, he is a creator of opportunities.

Most Barcelona players want the ball at their feet, and often times it becomes a predictable game of struggling to pass your way through a well organized defensive wall.

In the future, Barcelona will need dynamism and unpredictable players, who do the hard work with their feet off the ball.

Fermin is one of those players.

A reminder of the importance of having an eye for hidden talent, especially given the financial straits Barcelona find themselves in.

How many more players like Fermin Lopez are out there in the second and third divisions, just waiting to be discovered?

It’ll be an interesting summer transfer window for Barcelona.

I don’t expect them to make a big splash.

But under the surface, whether it be the players in the academy, or someone out on loan, maybe there is a solution hiding in plain sight.

It’s refreshing to see hard work pay off.

Fermin Lopez is the feelgood story of the season.