The curtain for the 25/26 season is about to rise, and there are few positions without an owner in Barça's line-up. The painful departure of Iñigo Martínez to Al Nassr has left the debate open for the left-footed center-back, but the rest of the positions seem to have, at least on paper, a clear starting footballer and another relegated to the bench. All except one, since in the attacking midfield, different possibilities were considered until recently. Dani Olmo, if his physical condition allowed it, was last season Flick's first option for important matches. Fermín, with perhaps a more secondary role until now, had finished the previous league in great form. Finally, the arrival of Marcus Rashford on the left wing left open the possibility that Raphinha could play as the playmaker.
The three options seem equally valid. We can even add a fourth if we consider Gavi as another player capable of acting as a link between the midfield and Barça's attack, although the player from Los Palacios usually performs better playing a bit deeper in the double pivot. In any case, the friendly matches played in recent weeks have fulfilled one of their purposes: allowing the German coach to assess who can offer the best performance for the team in the attacking midfield. Right now, taking into account the good performance shown by Fermín, the physical discomfort that Dani Olmo seems to be dragging, and the need to have Rashford as a striker due to Lewandowski's injury—something that also keeps Raphinha away from the playmaker position—starting in the first league match seems assured for the boy from El Campillo.
This year, Fermín has finally enjoyed some well-deserved vacation. Let's remember that last summer he participated in the European Championship that crowned Luis de la Fuente's Spanish national team and, with barely any time to breathe, he also took part in the Paris Olympics, where he won the gold medal with the national team. In my opinion, the lack of rest took its toll on the player from Huelva last season, as he was somewhat inconsistent and didn't fully take advantage of the opportunities Flick gave him, until reaching a season finale in which he did show he was at a good level. This time, after a more than restorative summer break, the 22-year-old midfielder seems to have returned to training eager to take on the world. He has also shown this in the Joan Gamper Trophy, scoring two beautiful goals and being named MVP of the tournament.
With a fully fit Fermín, Barça gains an attacking midfielder who is less technical than Dani Olmo but more intense in pressing and recovering the ball, constantly exhausting himself on the field. Likewise, the player from El Campillo also has that ability to get into the opponent's box, to arrive by surprise in a space where the center-backs have to keep an eye on the main striker and not the late runner. This is his third season as a member of Barça's first team, and I dare say this will be his year. Everything points to Fermín starting the 25/26 season as a starter, in a league debut in Mallorca that looks at the very least uncomfortable. If that's the case, justice is done—the boy has earned it.