Pedro “Dro” Fernández Sarmiento is expected to leave FC Barcelona this winter. While a move to Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly imminent, coach Hansi Flick feels betrayed.
Pedro Fernández Sarmiento, or “Dro” for short, was supposed to be Hansi Flick’s big future project at FC Barcelona. But the chapter ends in great disappointment for the German coach.
During pre-season, Hansi Flick suddenly pulled the new mega-gem out of the hat and promptly took him on the Catalans’ Asia trip. In the first friendly match against Vissel Kobe, Dro scored a spectacular goal for the 3-1 final score after coming on in the 78th minute, and in the current season, the 18-year-old’s star quickly began to shine brightly.
Dro was considered a major project by Hansi Flick at FC Barcelona
“He is a great talent, and La Masia has once again done fantastic work,” Flick said at the time. “Remember this name,” Marca wrote at the same time about the youngster, who turned 18 on January 12.
Only 44 minutes played: Dro sidelined after strong debut
After his league debut in September, Flick also used Dro in the Champions League, putting him in the starting eleven against Olympiacos Piraeus. The youngster immediately repaid the trust in the 6-1 victory, assisting a goal. He showed glimpses “of his enormous talent,” Sport wrote after his Champions League debut.
However, Dro was unable to establish himself in the team in the following months. Although the Spaniard with Filipino roots was regularly in the squad, he only played 44 minutes in three brief appearances in La Liga.
A development that likely convinced Dro to flee this winter and look for a new club. Flick and sporting director Deco were reportedly surprised by this decision, with the coach being particularly hard hit. Flick, after all, had never lost faith in Dro.
“Stab in the back” for Flick – Dro sidelined after transfer request
“Many love stories end badly. Dro’s is one of them. The announcement of his departure was a ‘stab in the back’ for Hansi Flick. He saw in him a very personal bet,” wrote the Spanish AS . Sport also reported that the former national team coach had spoken to his inner circle about “the biggest disappointment” of his life.
Even if a transfer is not yet official, the officials subsequently took drastic measures. In the league match against Real Sociedad San Sebastián, the club against whom he made his debut in the first half of the season, Dro was no longer in the squad. The Spaniard was also missing from the official team photo on Monday, did not travel with the team to the Champions League match in Prague, and is reportedly no longer training with the team otherwise.
Where the youngster is headed is probably already clear. As L’Équipe recently reported, Dro is said to have already agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain and will sign a contract until 2030. For Barca, this could lead to another super disaster. Dro has a release clause in his contract of “only” six million euros.
According to Sport , Barca urgently wants to prevent this fiasco and start a final negotiation process with Dro. As in the case of world footballer Ousmane Dembélé, the Catalans are reportedly trying to negotiate a transfer that exceeds the fixed release clause. “In a way, it would be a final detail that would show the player’s affection for his years in La Masia,” the report continues.
Barca star protects Dro
While Flick did not explicitly want to comment on the impending departure before it was finalized, Barca star Alejandro Balde spoke at Tuesday’s press conference and only expressed positive views about Dro.
“Every player has his own career and thinks differently. Decisions must be respected. I wish him all the best, I’m sure he will do very well because he has a lot of quality,” explained the full-back and added: “I got along very well with him, he’s a great guy. I hope everyone respects his decision.”
Flick had a few days earlier addressed only the other youth players of the Catalans, saying: “I want to tell the players from La Masia that we give them the chance, that this is Barca. You have to be there if you want to play for Barca. I want to tell everyone, those who are with us now and those who will come. They must live for these colors. That’s what I want to see, and I don’t want the others.”
Enrique as a key factor
However, given the sporting prospects in recent weeks, one thing is clear: Dro decided against the path of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, or Lionel Messi, who played for the Barca professionals for a long time after their time in La Masia. He hopes for more playing time at PSG.
According to AS , the deciding factor for a possible move to Paris is coach Luis Enrique. “The playing style and leadership qualities that Luis Enrique has shown since taking office in Paris opened up a golden opportunity for the Spaniard,” the newspaper wrote. Alongside the axis of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabián Ruiz, Dro is to become a key factor in the central midfield.