Flick confident Barca will keep Lopez amid Chelsea speculation

Hansi Flick is convinced Fermin Lopez will remain a Barcelona player beyond the end of the transfer window, after Chelsea were linked with a big-money move for the midfielder.

The Blues have been tipped to move for Lopez after seeing long-term target Xavi Simons join Tottenham, with Barca reportedly valuing the 22-year-old at €90m (£78m).

Lopez started Barca's 3-0 victory at Mallorca on matchday one in LaLiga, but he was then an unused substitute as they rallied from 2-0 down to beat Levante 3-2 last week.

And while Flick would understand if Lopez was interested in a Premier League move, he wants to keep him in Catalonia.

"At the moment, he is here. I spoke with him, of course, and I am convinced that he will continue," Flick said on Saturday.

"I don't know what will happen. I'll be very happy when the window closes. I told him my opinion, that he should stay. I understand that there may be doubts, football is a big business. 

"I'm focused on the team, and I'm very happy that Fermin is playing with us. He's very important for us, he has a very different style of play. He can help the team a lot."

Asked what Lopez brings to the squad, Flick added: "He is a very important player with and without the ball. He's good between the lines and at creating space. He also has a goal in him and makes good final passes. 

"When he's in a good mood, he's a great footballer. He loves Barca. I don't want to say too much, but Barca is in his heart.

"He knows we want him to stay. At the beginning of the week, it was perhaps different. In recent days, he has been more focused. For me, he's coping well."

Barca – one of five teams with a perfect record after two matchweeks, alongside Real Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Getafe – have had a relatively quiet transfer window.

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia, youngster Roony Bardghji and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford are their only additions, while there has been speculation they may need to sell players before Monday's deadline due to their financial issues.

"I can't change anything, so I don't think about these things. The transfer market is crazy. I don't know what will happen," Flick said.

"Everyone knows that I would like all the players to stay. Here's what I can say. The rest of these questions, you have to ask other people."

Rayo have three points from their first two games, beating Girona 3-1 then losing 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao, while they also won their Conference League play-off tie against Belarusian side FC Neman Grodno 5-0 on aggregate.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rayo Vallecano – Alvaro Garcia

Garcia has scored three goals in his nine previous games against Barcelona in LaLiga.

That is his joint-most against a single opponent in the competition (also three against Mallorca), and he will be keen to get off the mark for 2025-26 this weekend.

Barcelona – Pedri

Pedri kickstarted Barca's comeback against Levante last week with a goal early in the second half, and he tends to enjoy facing Rayo.

The Spain international has netted three times in six LaLiga matches against Rayo, his joint-most against any club in the competition (also three against Levante).

MATCH PREDICTION – BARCELONA WIN

Rayo have lost their last three LaLiga games against Barcelona since Inigo Perez was appointed as head coach in February 2024.

Prior to his arrival, they had gone unbeaten through five successive games against the Blaugrana in the competition, scoring in each (won three, drawn two).

Barca have only won one of their last four away games against Rayo in LaLiga (drawn one, lost two), having won each of the previous six. However, they are big favourites for victory this weekend.

The visitors have not lost any of their five away league games against teams from the Madrid area under Flick, winning four and drawing one. This is their best such run since December 2019 (won six, drawn one).

Rayo have also won just one of their last eight home LaLiga games (drawn five, lost two), triumphing 1-0 against Getafe in May, after winning the previous three in a row.

And the Blaugrana have won nine in a row on the road, their best away winning run in LaLiga since March 2021 under Ronald Koeman (nine).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Rayo Vallecano – 16.4%

Barcelona – 63.8%

Draw – 19.8%