Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his “disappointment” over Dro Fernández‘s choice to move to Paris Saint-Germain this week, stating he “really loved this player.”
The 18-year-old Dro officially joined PSG on Monday after the French champions activated his release clause, which was just above €6 million ($7.1 million).
According to sources, Flick was very upset about losing Dro and indicated he would elaborate on the transfer once it was finalized. However, he moderated his tone during a press conference on Friday.
When asked for his final opinion on the matter, Flick stated, “I reconsidered; I don’t want to say much now that everything is official.” He continued, “I really loved this player. Of course, I feel disappointment, but that’s football—we have to respect his decision.” He added, “He’s aware of my sentiments; I adored this kid. [At Barcelona], he might have had a promising future, but he chose a different path.”
Dro joined Barça’s first team last summer after being called up for preseason and had made five appearances across competitions, including in LaLiga and the Champions League. However, he was eager for more regular playtime.
This week, Barça’s sporting director Deco warned that making such a hasty decision could “harm his career” in the long run.
Dro’s transfer, alongside goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen moving to Girona and João Cancelo‘s loan arrival, signifies a conclusion to Barça’s January transfer activities, as confirmed by club president Joan Laporta.
Flick is confident in the current squad’s ability to compete at all levels and noted that injured players will soon return. He mentioned that academy talents are prepared to step up as Barça aims for success in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League after their recent Spanish Supercopa victory.
When asked if he felt satisfied with the squad as the transfer window draws to a close, he responded affirmatively. “I hope our injured players return soon so we can see Pedri more actively; he’s currently recovering. Gavi has also been training more consistently, and Andreas Christensen is in a similar situation.”
Flick concluded, “I have a strong team with plenty of quality, and we also have talents from Barça B and La Masia like Tommy [Marques] and Jofre [Torrents] who are ready to contribute. I’m genuinely happy with the team’s caliber.”
Barcelona, currently one point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, will continue league play against Elche on Saturday, following their advancement to the Champions League round of 16 earlier in the week.
Fermín López Signs Contract Extension with Barcelona
On Friday, Barcelona midfielder Fermín López signed a new contract that extends his stay with the club until 2031, effectively quashing any interest from Chelsea for the time being.
Although Chelsea considered a move for Fermín last summer, the deal never came to fruition. Nevertheless, the threat of a substantial offer from a Premier League club lingered. In response, Barcelona initiated talks to secure the 22-year-old’s future earlier this month, aiming to not only fend off English interest but also to reward him for his performances this season.