Barcelona Left Fuming as Teen Talent Dro Fernández Snubs Contract for Paris Saint-Germain Move
Barcelona have officially confirmed the departure of promising young midfielder Dro Fernández to Paris Saint-Germain, with club president Joan Laporta describing the circumstances surrounding the transfer as "an unpleasant situation". The 18-year-old, who turned 18 on 12 January, has agreed to join the French giants in a deal worth over €8 million (£6.9 million), despite having a €6 million (£5.2 million) buyout clause in his previous contract.
Contract U-Turn Sparks Anger at Camp Nou
Dro Fernández, who joined Barcelona at the age of 14 and made his first-team debut in September, was expected to sign a new contract with the Catalan club after his 18th birthday. However, in a surprising turn of events, his representatives informed Barcelona that he would not be fulfilling the previously agreed terms. Instead, the teenager travelled to the French capital on Sunday night to complete a medical with PSG.
Laporta expressed his frustration in an interview with Catalan radio, stating: "We had agreed a new situation with Dro for when he turned 18 and surprisingly his agent informed us that he couldn't fulfil what had been agreed." The move has left Barcelona feeling aggrieved, particularly as PSG agreed to pay above the buyout clause as a gesture of goodwill, a detail that has done little to soothe tensions.
Flick's Frustration Over Limited Opportunities
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who had promoted Dro to the first-team squad and handed him his debut at 17, also revealed his disappointment. When questioned about the transfer during a pre-match press conference before Barcelona's game against Real Sociedad, Flick initially refused to comment until the deal was official. However, he eventually allowed his irritation to show, saying: "I put a lot of effort in the young players and helping them improve but there are a lot of people around them. There are footballers who are 17 or 18 but who have people who make decisions. I don't want to say more."
Despite Flick's faith in him, Dro Fernández struggled for playing time at Barcelona, accumulating just 148 minutes of first-team football across five appearances. His limited opportunities may have influenced his decision to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
New Beginnings at PSG Under Luis Enrique
At Paris Saint-Germain, Dro Fernández will be reunited with former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, whose tactical approach could offer the young midfielder more chances to shine. Enrique's preferred 4-3-3 formation is thought to be better suited to Dro's playing style than Flick's 4-2-3-1 system, raising hopes that he will see increased game time in Ligue 1.
Considered one of the standout talents of his generation, Dro's move marks a significant blow for Barcelona's youth development pipeline. The club had invested years in his progression, only to see him depart for a rival European powerhouse at a critical juncture in his career.
This transfer saga underscores the intense competition for emerging football stars and the complex dynamics involving agents, clubs, and player ambitions in modern European football.
