A key Barcelona midfielder suffers a devastating major injury blow as the Catalan giants are dealt a huge setback ahead of crucial fixtures.
After medical evaluation, the coaching staff and Hansi Flick jointly decided he would not travel to Santander, opting for caution rather than risking a setback in a knockout tie that had been earmarked as a prime stage to accelerate his first-team integration.
Beyond forcing a rethink of Flick’s rotation plans, the absence removes a valuable opportunity for the youngster to gain competitive minutes, rhythm, and confidence in a season where Barcelona is carefully balancing results with the promotion of emerging talent.
The player in question is 18-year-old Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernández, a La Masia graduate increasingly viewed as one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation within the club.
Reports from Diario Sport indicate that Dro is dealing with physical discomfort rather than a serious structural injury, but the issue is significant enough to prevent him from performing at full capacity, prompting the technical staff to prioritise his long-term fitness over short-term needs in the Copa del Rey.
Dro’s absence is particularly frustrating because this tie against Racing Santander had been widely circled as an ideal context to hand him minutes, especially given Barcelona’s status as favourites and Flick’s intention to blend regular starters with academy products.
The objective is to have him available again over the coming weeks so that this setback becomes only a brief interruption in a season that was starting to confirm his place in the senior dynamics.
Flick, for his part, has been impressed since pre-season by Dro’s attitude, technical quality, and tactical understanding of the positional game, reinforcing the determination at the sporting management level to tie him down as an essential part of the next generation at Camp Nou.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
