Fermín López's future is hanging by a thread. Chelsea has put a staggering offer on the table that could change his life and Barça's finances.
Joan Laporta will give the green light to the deal as long as the player himself decides to accept the offer.
Everything will depend on the decision he makes in the coming hours, in a standoff that pits sporting ambitions against financial gain.
The youth academy product is aware that the English proposal puts him in front of a dilemma. On one hand, he would be guaranteed a multimillion-dollar contract far above what he currently earns at Barça. He would go from €6 million ($6 million) to €15 million ($15 million) per year.
On the other hand, he knows that in London the difficulties to carve out a place are much greater. He could go from hero to forgotten in just a few weeks. He wouldn't be the first at Stamford Bridge.
An offer impossible to ignore
Chelsea has raised its fixed offer for Fermín from €58 million ($58 million) to €63 million ($63 million). In addition, it would be willing to include add-ons that would raise the deal to €70 million ($70 million). From a financial perspective, the sale would be an immediate relief for Barça, which would solve most of its fair play problems and could register all its new signings.
But the financial aspect isn't limited to the transfer. For Fermín, the change would mean more than doubling his salary. It's a huge difference that calls for reflection.
The bench as a threat
Fermín's biggest fear isn't about his bank account, but about the field. At Barça, he would have to compete with Gavi and Dani Olmo for an attacking midfield position, but Flick has assured him that he will get quality minutes. In contrast, at Chelsea the situation is radically different.
The London club has year after year an overbooking of footballers. Every summer, multimillion-dollar signings arrive as saviors and in just two months find themselves relegated to the bench or loaned out to another team. The cases of players like Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, or Cucurella are recent examples of the lack of continuity many suffer.
Fierce competition in London
If Fermín were to say yes, he would have to coexist with an overcrowded squad. In his position, he would be competing with the team's star, Cole Palmer, as well as Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, or Estavao. He would be waiting to see if the signings of Xavi Simons and Garnacho are confirmed, with whom he would also have to compete.
The scenario looks more like a competitive hell than an opportunity to grow consistently.
Imminent decision
The player has until tomorrow, Friday, to give a final answer. Laporta has already communicated that he will accept the offer if Fermín agrees, but the midfielder is still hesitating. The choice isn't easy: stay at Barça with guaranteed minutes or leave for Chelsea, where he would earn much more money but could get lost in the tide of forgotten footballers.