Barcelona fans have been watching the January transfer window closely, with many wondering how the exits of academy graduates would impact the squad.
One name that caught attention was Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez, who made the move to Paris Saint-Germain amid speculation and excitement about his potential.
While Barca focused on integrating other young players into first-team training,
Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez was preparing for a fresh start in France, surrounded by some of the biggest talents in world football.
Questions over the teenager’s development and opportunities at Barcelona circulated in the media, with observers curious whether he would ever fully break through under Hansi Flick.
The 18-year-old finally made his long-awaited first appearance for PSG this past weekend.
Dro came off the bench in the 75th minute against Marseille, replacing Senny Mayulu with the score already at 5-0 in PSG’s favour.
Despite the late cameo, the La Masia graduate made headlines immediately after the match for comments that were interpreted as a subtle dig at Barcelona.
“Luis Enrique is an incredible manager. Everyone told me he was an incredible manager, and that’s one of the reasons I signed here.
“He has a lot of faith in young players,” he said, highlighting the influence of PSG’s coach on his decision to leave Catalunya.
He added: “Paris is the best place for me,” underlining that the move was motivated by his desire for growth and more playing time than he felt he could get at Barcelona.
Dro also reflected on his adjustment to life in France, praising the quality around him and his approach to seizing opportunities.
“I’m making the most of the minutes I’m given, I’m in no rush. I’m going to keep working so that things continue like this and I can play more,” he explained, hinting at his ambitions to feature regularly.
Barcelona supporters and coaching staff, especially Hansi Flick, have reportedly been disappointed by Dro’s departure, given the faith shown in the teenager during training sessions and first-team involvement.
However, the 18-year-old seems determined to justify the switch, convinced that PSG offers him the platform to showcase his talents more prominently than he could in Catalunya.
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