Now, according to SPORT, Fermin's physical problem originated in Barcelona's La Liga game against Athletic Club last weekend. It came specifically from Oihan Sancet's very harsh tackle, a play in which the Athletic midfielder caught Fermin on his leg, forcing him to remain on the ground for a long moment and showing clear signs of pain. Sancet was sent off for the challenge.
What I thought might happen in five, six, seven years happened in 19 days. It was August 2018, Simon was 21 and although he had been training at Athletic Club for a decade, and with the first team for three years, the son of police officers from Vitoria didn't think there was a chance of playing in Bilbao any time soon, if at all. It was all he wanted but he didn't even live there any more, moving 800km in search of an opportunity with second division Elche.