Atletico Madrid submits a €10m bid for Barcelona midfielder as city rivals launch surprise low-ball offer to raid Camp Nou this winter.
The Colchoneros, desperate for midfield reinforcement post-Conor Gallagher’s Tottenham exit, view the youngster as a perfect fit for Diego Simeone’s high-intensity system—offering tactical versatility and immediate first-team potential at a bargain price.
This audacious move blindsides PSG, who were poised to trigger the player’s modest €6m release clause after months of tracking.
That midfielder is Dro Fernández, the Spain U18 starlet whose meteoric rise saw him break into Hansi Flick’s senior squad last season with five appearances, including Champions League minutes against Olympiacos, as reported by Fichajes.
Dro Fernández’s technical elegance, vision, and maturity beyond his years have alerted Europe’s elite, but Barcelona’s stalled contract renewal—aiming to hike his clause to €10m—opened the transfer window.
Atléti’s cash offer matches Barcelona’s desired figure outright, bypassing clause dependency and pressuring PSG to counter or retreat.
Mateu Alemany, Barcelona’s ex-director now steering Atletico’s ship, leverages insider knowledge to accelerate the deal, positioning Fernández as Plan B behind pricier targets like Wolves’ Joao Gomes.
For Atletico Madrid, the teenager represents progressive midfield depth alongside Koke, with Spain World Cup aspirations aligning perfectly.
FC Barcelona scramble for an express extension, but time works against them—each day without ink risks losing their prize asset to a domestic rival.
Paris Saint-Germain, stunned by the intervention, must weigh upping their bid against internal competition that could stunt Fernández’s growth behind stars like Vitinha.
Atlético Madrid’s gambit underscores their youth recruitment evolution, willing to outmuscle giants for elite prospects.
La Masia’s latest gem faces a career-defining choice—domestic rivalry, French riches, or Atletico Madrid—as January’s final days loom.
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