"I never had any doubt that I wanted to stay at Barça. A lot of numbers move, but what I wanted was to be happy," he said in one of Laporta's last acts before resigning.
Fermín has already signed his contract extension until June 2031. The event was attended by president Joan Laporta, as well as vice-president Rafa Yuste. Fermín has also been accompanied by some of his relatives on a very special day in his career.
Fermín's renewal will be one of Laporta's last acts as president, as he is expected to resign on Monday according to the electoral process. With the continuity of the midfielder, Barça manage to close one of the strategic contracts in the planning of the sporting management led by Deco.
The man from Campillo has appeared in front of the media and has expressed his feelings. "I have gone through a hard and difficult road and I have learned many things and I think that everything I have lived through has helped me to mature and that this moment will come and be prepared. I think I'm in a very good moment, very happy to renew and hopefully stay for many years."
Fermín also referred to the cup draw and the upcoming match against Atlético in the semi-finals. "It will be difficult: Atlético are a great rival. To win the Cup we know that we have to face whoever and we want to reach the final and win it." A complicated road like a league where everything is also very close: "We are in a good moment, we have to continue like this: think about ourselves and continue in this line and not look too much at others".
A key preseason with Xavi
Fermín did not want to overlook Xavi's role to be able to celebrate a dream renewal today. "I had a bit of a tough time at Linares at the beginning, but I learned a lot and the pre-season with Xavi went very well: Itrust myself, I scored the goal against Madrid and he is an important part of my career. And now with Hansi too: he's giving me a lot of confidence and I'm helping the team and have my place."
At just 22 years old, the playmaker was ambitious with his goals at the club: "I hope to make history, win many titles. And this is the dream I have always had and I hope to make it come true these years".
A dream that includes the possibility of wearing the bracelet one day. "I would be excited to be captain of Barça at some point. It would be a dream to be Barça's captain but now there are very good ones. And if he has to arrive, he would be very happy. I've been a Barça fan since I was little, I live for Barça and it would be a dream to be captain and if it comes one day I'll be very happy."
About last summer, where there was a lot of talk about a Chelsea proposal, he insisted that he never thought about leaving. "I know that the club trusts me a lot, last summer I didn't have any doubts about leaving here either: my dream is to be here. The dream of the boy who came from Campillo was to play in the Barça first team and I'm achieving it. I hope to be there for many years and I am very happy. Many numbers move, but what I wanted was to be happy."
"Now I'm calmer with the ball and I'm more mature"
Fermín elaborated when talking about how his growth in the first team has been and in which aspects he sees a clearer improvement. "I came with almost no experience, I came from Linares, and arriving at a club like Barça: the pressure you have, the demands, I learned a lot with Xavi and now Hansi," he began by saying.
"I've improved a lot: now I'm a more mature player and on the pitch it's showing. I've always been a boy who tries to take care of sleep, food, personal training. I've been doing it for five years and I haven't changed much in that, but it's true that, with the game, I'm calmer with the ball. Now I'm more mature making decisions on the pitch."