Spanish press reports revealed the decisive role played by a WhatsApp message in changing the career path of the young star Fermín López at Barcelona, after he was initially out of the first team's plans before becoming one of the most prominent rising names.

The Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo' mentioned that Fermín's career was not traditional compared to players from La Masia Academy. Despite joining at a young age from Real Betis and having clear talent, he did not stand out remarkably in the youth categories, amidst doubts about his physical capabilities to play at a professional level.

The newspaper added that the turning point came with the arrival of Xavi Hernández to coach the team in November 2021. Fermín was not among the candidates for promotion, nor was he even a regular player in the youth team, until he participated in a training session with the first team and left a good initial impression.

Despite this, he was later loaned to Linares after being excluded from the club's plans, whether for the reserve team or the first team. There, he began to gradually develop until he became a key player and stood out noticeably away from Barcelona's eyes.

According to the same source, the pivotal moment came when Xavi received a WhatsApp message from a friend named Domingo, alerting him to the outstanding level Fermín was presenting with Linares, reminding him that he was still a Barcelona player, prompting the coach to reconsider the player's situation.

The newspaper indicated that this message was a true turning point, as Xavi asked his coaching staff to closely monitor the player. Fermín continued to shine during the second half of the season, becoming his team's top scorer, confirming his right to a new opportunity.

Although the club was planning to sell or loan the player again after the end of his loan period, Xavi decided to include him in the list of young players who would participate in the preparation period before the preparatory tour in the United States.

During the preparation period, Fermín only needed one training session to convince the coach, as Xavi expressed great admiration for his abilities, praising his understanding of the game and his use of both feet, before deciding to take him on the American tour.

The report confirmed that Fermín quickly got his chance, as he participated in the first friendly match against Arsenal, then shone remarkably against Real Madrid by scoring a goal and assisting another, beginning a new chapter in his career that might have taken a completely different path were it not for that decisive message.