LAMINE YAMAL has revealed Fermin Lopez had no intention of joining Chelsea on deadline day.
The Blues launched a £35million bid for the Barcelona midfielder late in the window.
Enzo Maresca’s offer was quickly rebuffed.
And Chelsea were expected to return on the final day of the window with an offer closer to Barca’s £50m valuation.
However, the Blues did not make a second bid — despite missing out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham.
They instead wrapped up a loan deal for Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.
While a focus on outgoings, including Nicolas Jackson’s resurrected Bayern Munich move, took precedence for club chiefs.
Now, Barca star Yamal claims Lopez was never looking to join Chelsea.
He confirmed the Blues did indeed make an offer for the playmaker.
But Yamal reckons Lopez is delighted to be staying at Barcelona.
That’s despite teammates teasing him over a potential move to England.
Yamal said: “We were joking with Fermin about moving to England.
“But he’s happy at Barcelona. No one wants to leave.
“We asked him about that bid from England but Fermin said he’s happy here.
“He had no plans to leave.”
As well as Buonanatte, Chelsea’s deadline day saw them recall Marc Guiu from Sunderland as cover for the injured Liam Delap.
Just days earlier, they completed a £40m move for Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho.
But Chelsea failed to move on several flops including Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, while Ben Chilwell was given a free transfer to sister club Strasbourg.
