News Beat
Chelsea beaten to signing of Barcelona wonderkid Dro, 18, by Champions League giants after Hansi Flick fury
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN have announced the signing of Dro Fernandez from Barcelona.
The Spanish wonderkid, 18, has penned a four-and-a-half year contract with the reigning champions of Europe.
Dro informed Barca chiefs that he would like to leave the club this month, despite breaking into Hansi Flick‘s first team set up this season.
With his contract possessing a bargain £5.2million release clause, the winger was not short of interest – with Chelsea, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund among his potential suitors.
But it is PSG that have won the race for his signature.
Upon signing for the French giants, Dro said: “I’m very happy and very proud to be joining Paris Saint-Germain.
“This is a moment of huge pride for me and for my family. PSG is a massive club that I’ve followed since I was a child and where some great legends have made history.
“Right now, I’m hugely excited and motivated to play and to give everything for this shirt.”
Having starred for Barcelona’s academy sides, Dro was included on their pre-season tour of South Korea and Japan last summer.
His senior competitive debut soon followed, as he started in a 2-1 LaLiga win over Real Sociedad in September.
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Dro went on to make a further three LaLiga outings, in addition to being handed a start against Olympiacos in the Champions League.
The Spanish youngster’s assist against the Greek side made him the second youngest player to ever register one in the Champions League, only behind Giovanni Reyna.
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Having worked to develop Dro, boss Flick was fuming with the teenager’s decision to leave.
The German, 60, said: “I don’t want to answer… as a coach you give a lot of energy to the players, you give them the confidence, you believe in them, you help them to grow and improve of course.
“But then there are people around this player. I want to wait until it’s done. If they say ‘now I go to another club’, then ask me again. But not now.
“What I want to say to the young players from La Masia, is we are Barca and one of the best teams in the world.
“We give them the opportunity to train with us, to grow, every day, with the best players in the world. We give them the opportunity, we give them the support, believe in them, the confidence.
“If you want to play for Barca, then [do it] 100 percent with your whole heart. This is what I want to say to everyone who is now with us, or in the future with us, this must be 100 per cent.”
Paris Saint-Germain have given regular game time to several youngsters this season.
Academy graduates Senny Mayulu, 19, Warren Zaire-Emery, 19, Ibrahim Mbaye, 18 and Quentin Ndjantou, 18, have all racked up regular appearances under Luis Enrique.
Dro will be hoping to establish himself in an attack that already features the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-in.
The French champions travel to Strasbourg this Sunday.
