Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has dedicated significant time to nurturing Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernández, making it all the more shocking when the 18-year-old midfielder informed him of his decision to leave the club.
Flick had included Dro in Barcelona’s preseason tour last summer, facilitated his LaLiga debut in September, and awarded him a first UEFA Champions League start in October. However, after sampling football at such a high level, Dro felt unfulfilled and sought more playing time, leading to his surprising choice to pursue opportunities elsewhere—an action that sent shockwaves through the club.
This week, confirmation of Dro’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain arrived, with sources indicating the French side paid slightly more than his €6 million release clause to secure his signing. The existence of this clause meant Barcelona had no means to prevent the transfer, which was particularly painful considering the involvement of former club player and coach Luis Enrique, now the manager at PSG.
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Dro’s unexpected exit has frustrated Flick, according to club sources. When the news broke, the German coach expressed reluctance to discuss the situation until the transfer was finalized, while also mentioning the external influences surrounding the player, his own belief in Dro, and his preference to work with those genuinely committed to Barcelona.
“If you want to play for Barça, it must be with your whole heart,” he stated. “For everyone else, I’m not interested.”
Flick, typically composed in public, was addressing the media while the situation was still fresh; Dro had only communicated his departure intention that week. Club sources revealed that Flick encouraged him to reconsider. Nevertheless, Dro reaffirmed his decision the following day, clarifying that his choice was based solely on football considerations, not financial motives.
Flick then instructed Dro to leave the first-team dressing room; in the interim leading up to his transfer to PSG, Dro trained in isolation. Meanwhile, Dro’s agent—former Barça midfielder Ivan de la Peña, also a close friend of Luis Enrique—went on to notify sporting director Deco, who was equally taken aback.
Barcelona had plans to offer Dro a new contract and were awaiting his 18th birthday, which he celebrated after the Spanish Supercopa victory over Real Madrid in early January. On the flight back from Saudi Arabia, the club shared a video capturing teammate Raphinha presenting him with a birthday cake as the squad sang “Happy Birthday”—an occasion that turned out to be his last moment in Barcelona colors.
Sources close to the negotiations indicated that talks for a new contract never gained momentum and suggested that Barcelona bears some responsibility for acting too slowly, especially given the accessibility of the €6 million clause to major European clubs. Barça president Joan Laporta denied this claim, asserting on Sunday that a renewal agreement was near completion.
Dro departs after making five appearances for Barça, although he hadn’t played since coming on as a substitute against Atlético Madrid on December 2. Sources familiar with the player’s perspective indicated he felt blocked in his pursuit of regular playing time at Barça.
Flick employs a system featuring two deep-lying central midfielders and a No. 10, which does not align with Dro’s strengths. Sources suggested Dro is most at ease as one of two advanced midfielders positioned in front of a holding midfielder. Even in the No. 10 role, he faced stiff competition for minutes, with Fermín López, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha regularly prioritized ahead of him. Additionally, sources noted that a mere 149 minutes of football—totaling just 88 touches—did not suggest full confidence from the coaching staff.
Sources with knowledge of the negotiations disclosed that after several discussions with Luis Enrique, Dro was persuaded that a move to PSG would be more beneficial for his career at this juncture. The reigning European champions weren’t the only ones interested; Manchester City, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich had previously shown interest. As news of his departure surfaced, various clubs reached out to De la Peña to reassess the situation; teams that had once deemed a transfer impossible were reignited with the prospect of signing Dro. Although sources emphasized that a deal with PSG wasn’t finalized at that time, it became apparent that discussions were already advanced.
Dro’s ascent intensified last summer following a promotion of Arnau Blanco to Flick’s coaching staff after his successful tenure in the academy, where he had coached Dro. Blanco’s enthusiasm for the player greatly influenced Flick, fostering a belief that Dro’s progression was only a matter of time.
Dro joined Barça from Galician club Val Miñor—where Thiago Alcántara once played—at the age of 14 in 2022. His nickname, “Dro,” originated when his brother struggled to pronounce his name, and it remained due to the number of other Pedros he played alongside over the years. Real Madrid had acknowledged his talent, but sources involved in his transfer to Barça indicated that Los Blancos “missed out” on sealing a deal.
Some players are naturally compared to others, and Dro is definitely one of them. Val Miñor coach Javier Roxo remarked to ESPN: “I haven’t seen anyone as technically gifted as Thiago [Alcántara], but in terms of vision, Dro may even surpass him.” Additionally, Luis Pérez Barreiro, a former coach at Val Miñor, likened him to club legend Andrés Iniesta, while current star Pedri has previously cited Dro as his favorite emerging talent at Barça.
Another coach who worked with Dro compared him to Brazilian icon and Ballon d’Or winner, Kaká, noting to ESPN: “Dro’s game understanding is far superior to the norm. He has always stood out as a unique player. I would liken him to Kaká, despite his ties to Real Madrid and AC Milan [rather than Barça].”
Dro made an impact with a spectacular goal in preseason, which quickly led to his competitive debut in LaLiga. His first Champions League start followed against Olympiacos, where he assisted Fermín to become the second-youngest player to record an assist in the competition.
He becomes the latest highly-rated product from La Masia to leave Barça at such a young age, often pursuing opportunities beyond the club. Some aim to make a return, like Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas, Eric García, and Olmo; others, such as Jordi Mboula and, on a lesser scale, Ilaix Moriba, have not achieved the anticipated level. Meanwhile, the careers of players like Xavi Simons (now at Tottenham Hotspur) and Marc Guiu (Chelsea) remain to be seen as they navigate their careers.
Only time will tell which path Dro will follow, but PSG is acquiring one of the most promising talents to emerge from Barça’s academy in recent years. Flick’s response underscores just how significant a loss this young player is for the club.