Meczyki reports the two clubs had agreed a 600,000 fee for Fermin, who had also approved the deal.
However, a change of coach saw the move stall before new boss Dawid Szwarga ultimately rejected the deal.
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Rakow's decision angered Barca management at the time, which had been eager to sell the B team player.
But instead, coach Xavi took Fermin on their preseason tour of the USA and since then the youngster hasn't looked back.