‘A treacherous stab in the back’ – Barcelona president Joan Laporta fumes at agent over transfer row

Robin Bairner

13 Mar 2026 12:31 GMT
4 min read

Joan Laporta, Barcelona, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has criticised the agent of Dro Fernandez for orchestrating the youngster’s January transfer to PSG in an act of “betrayal” towards the Camp Nou side.

Article continues under the video

Dro completed a shock switch to the Ligue 1 side for €8.2 million, with the Catalan side helpless to block the move. Although they fetched a price higher than the player’s release fee in a deal that suited both clubs, the Champions League winners had indicated that they were willing to trigger that clause in the contract of the 18-year-old.

Laporta, whose presidency at Barcelona goes on the line on Sunday when the club’s election takes place, is not happy with the manner in which the move came about. Ivan de la Pena, Dro’s agent, is firmly in his firing line.

Dro Fernandez to PSG ‘a treacherous stab in the back’

“Dro's departure was a betrayal on the part of the representative. It was a disgrace and a treacherous stab in the back,” Laporta fumed to JijantesFC.

“Hansi Flick was left deeply shaken since he had given him more opportunities than others. An exception was made with Dro, since he didn't have the appropriate contract.

© IMAGO - Dro Fernandez while a Barcelona player

“It wouldn’t have happened if Jorge Mendes had been his agent. With him, we’ve kept Lamine Yamal and it didn’t happen to us like it has with Ivan de la Pena, who because of him Dro went to PSG.

“If Jorge Mendes had Dro, it wouldn’t have happened.”

De la Pena’s agency still has a handful of Barcelona stars on its books, with Gavi, Eric Garcia and defensive midfield prospect Davi Avila all registered under their guidance.

Dro already given more of a chance at PSG

Although Dro had been invited into Barcelona’s first-team fold and impressed particularly in pre-season, his opportunities when it came to the competitive stage were somewhat more limited.

The 18-year-old was given just 89 minutes of La Liga action under Flick, who had gone public on his admiration for the young midfielder.

Dro Fernandez has only been at PSG for a month but has already been given more league minutes than he was with Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/OjBYMrQZD4
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) February 21, 2026

By contrast, he has already clocked more than 200 minutes of Ligue 1 action in two months at PSG, with Luis Enrique handing him starts in each of the club’s last three games.

Nevertheless, Dro’s departure has led to a good deal of bad blood between his agent and the current Barcelona president – a wound that will not be easily healed.

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