Fermín calls his game ‘pure passion’ as he reflects on 150 Barça appearances

“My game is pure passion,” Fermín says. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the FC Barcelona midfielder looks back on his style, his career and the milestone of 150 official appearances for Barça’s first team. At 23, he has also scored 38 goals and provided 36 assists for the club, notable figures for a player who is not a centre-forward.

Fermín describes his football as forward-minded, driven by a desire to get closer to goal and create chances. He says that instinct has been part of his game since he was young, but that he has been able to contribute more over the past two years. “I think I’ve matured quite a lot in my game,” he says of that development.

The 150-appearance milestone came as a surprise to him. “I don’t know, honestly, I never would have imagined reaching 150 games with Barça’s first team,” he says, adding that he hopes to play many more. He acknowledges, though, that his career will determine how far he can go.

Mundo Deportivo also noted that Fermín’s 38 goals put him level with Diego Armando Maradona in Barça’s historical ranking. Fermín rejects any comparison with the Argentine, while saying he is pleased to have matched his total. “Everyone has their own path,” he says.

The interview also looks back at a spell when Fermín doubted whether he could establish himself. He says he did not feel as important as his teammates and thought his progress was not matching theirs. Looking back, he regards difficult moments as lessons. As a child, he struggled with playing little and being away from his family; with time, he believes that experience helped him become the person he is and reach his current position.

Fermín also discusses his connection with Lamine Yamal, whom he has known since childhood and considers a friend away from the pitch. He says that friendship makes their understanding on the field more natural.

The remarks come ahead of an important match against Atlético, following defeats to PSG and Real Madrid. Last season, Atlético also caused problems for Barça in the Cup and the Champions League. Fermín suffered a serious injury in a collision with goalkeeper Juan Musso. He also recalls difficult beginnings in youth football and a journey that did not seem destined to take him to 150 first-team appearances.