While millions celebrated Spain's World Cup glory in America this summer alongside eight of his Barcelona teammates, midfielder Fermin Lopez faced a heartbreaking summer of recovery.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The talented youngster missed out on the tournament at the eleventh hour after suffering a serious foot injury that completely ruined his summer plans.
According to Catalan radio, Lopez admitted his struggles during a recent interview while training with Barcelona in England.
"It was the worst summer of my career. I got through it thanks to my family, my partner, and my friends. I needed help. I already had it before, but my mental coach helped me a lot to get through it," Lopez stated.
The pain of missing the global tournament was so intense that the midfielder initially could not even bring himself to watch the Spanish national team play their matches.
"I didn't watch the first few matches of the Spanish national team in the World Cup; I couldn't. I wanted to be there, and towards the end, when I was feeling a bit better, I decided to go see the final live in New York," Lopez added.
Fortunately, the recovery process is heading in the right direction for the midfielder as he prepares for the upcoming club season.
"I'm feeling better every day. I have no discomfort, which is important. If everything goes well, I could play a few minutes in the Gamper," Lopez concluded.
Missing a World Cup title is a brutal blow for any young player, but Lopez has shown resilience and looks ready to bounce back strongly for Barcelona.