Dro Fernandez: Barca rocked as wonderkid goes from ‘next Iniesta’ to Flick’s biggest disappointment

Robin Bairner

• 17 Jan 2026 11:31 GMT
• 6 min read

Analysis

Dro Fernandez has stunned Barcelona by announcing that he will leave the club. Worse, he is set to depart to PSG, a side that has established itself as perhaps their fiercest adversary outside of La Liga.

Dro has agreed to join Luis Enrique’s side on a deal that will run until June 2030, with the Catalans set to lose one of their hottest prospects for the value of his €6 million release clause.

At the best of times, this would be a gut punch for the Blaugrana, but given the financial problems that have beset them since the Covid pandemic, it is a particular hammer blow. Dro was a player they were counting on for the years ahead.

Barcelona blow

Flick has described the deal to those close to him as his “biggest disappointment”, according to Catalan paper Sport.

He was, after all, the man who had nurtured him towards first-team football, including handing him his debut in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. Dro scored on debut and clearly made a big impression with the coach.

“He trained with us previously at the end of last season and that’s why he’s here. He is a great talent and again La Masia did a fantastic job,” Flick said after the 17-year-old netted against Vissel Kobe.

“It wasn’t only because of the goal, but also because of how he relates to the ball. He has to improve, of course. In midfield, we have a lot of quality and it’s not easy to play there, not only for him, but also for the rest.”

Dro has since gone on to play five times for Barca’s first-team, starting twice and generating an assist in the Champions League win over Olympiacos in October.

Dro’s stunning announcement

From Fabrizio Romano’s description of events, Flick was right to be left stunned. The transfer journalist explained:

“Dro, who has just turned 18, went into the dressing room today and told Hansi Flick: ‘Coach, I am leaving’,” Romano said.

“He will not sign a new contract with Barcelona and will trigger his €6m release clause this month. That fee will be paid immediately.

“The decision was made by Dro together with his agent Ivan de la Pena, and Barcelona have been informed. I will reveal his next club as soon as I have it confirmed.”

Premier League interest was declared from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, indicating the calibre of club chasing the player’s signature, but PSG rapidly moved to secure a deal in a transfer that rocks Barcelona.

A player of ‘infinite talent’

Barca have typically been careful with their most prodigious young talents, slapping release clauses of €1 billion or €500m on their heads to prevent suitors. They have been unable to do that with Dro and are set to see him slip away to PSG in a repeat of the world-record deal that took Neymar to Paris, not in scale but in symbolism.

PSG hope the resonance will ultimately be the same, though.

Those around La Masia have heaped praise on him.

“Although some people compare him to Pedri, Dro reminds me of Iniesta because of his vision and great talent,” youth coaches Javi Roxo and Luis Perez gushed to Sport in July.

“Dro is capable of everything and if Flick puts him on the wing he can also do well, it won’t be Raphinha but he can look like the Iniesta who played on the left. If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.

“Dro is a talent of Thiago’s level, I have not seen anyone as technical as Thiago but Dro’s vision of the game is even superior. Dro was always very special, he has a gift for touching the ball and has always been very creative.”

Why has Dro moved to PSG?

First team opportunities are likely to be key to Dro’s decision, as well as the attraction of playing under a great coach such as Luis Enrique.

While Barcelona are renowned for their ability to bring through young players, as Flick mentioned, their midfield is a formidable obstacle to break into.

Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi represent a formidable trio for him to elbow his way by, and while PSG have an equally formidable unit led by Joao Neves, Vitinha and Dro’s compatriot Fabian Ruiz, the depth at Parc des Princes is not quite as great and the willingness to rotate is more.

Dro can therefore expect first-team football at an elite side - something neither Chelsea nor Manchester City, with their squad churn and intense competition for places, could guarantee.

Luis Enrique has also made the Parisians one of the most attractive teams in the world due to their flowing, technical brand of football.

And, of course, there is the money. Barcelona’s financial restrictions doubtless allow PSG to offer a more financially attractive package.

Dro’s departure a blow for Barca and Laporta

For Barcelona president Joan Laporta, this is an untimely slap in the face. He hopes to hold elections in March to reaffirm his power at Camp Nou based on an argument of improving on-field and structural management.

Dro’s departure – Hansi Flick’s biggest disappointment – is a stark reminder that Barcelona have a long way yet to build back.

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