Barcelona Coach Hansi Flick Expresses Disappointment Over Dro Fernández’s Transfer to PSG

omidbasir- Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, has publicly expressed his disappointment over Dro Fernández’s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain this week, stating, “I loved this boy.”

The 18-year-old signed with PSG on Monday after the European champions agreed to pay slightly above his €6 million ($7.1 million) release clause to transfer him to the French capital. Sources have indicated that Flick was quite frustrated by the loss of Dro, although he moderated his response during a recent press conference.

When asked for his final thoughts on the matter following the official announcement, Flick remarked, “I changed my mind; I don’t want to say something. I truly loved this boy. Of course, I am disappointed, but this is football, and we must respect this decision. He knows how I feel. He could have had a bright future with us at Barcelona, but he chose a different path.”

Dro had been a part of Barça’s first team since last summer, when Flick included him in the preseason tour. He made five appearances across all competitions, debuting in both LaLiga and the Champions League, but had expressed a desire for more regular playing time.

Earlier this week, Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, cautioned that moving too quickly could potentially “damage his career” in the long run.

The departure of Dro, alongside goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s move to Girona and João Cancelo’s loan arrival, marks the conclusion of Barcelona’s transfer activities for January, as stated by club president Joan Laporta.

Flick is optimistic about the squad’s ability to compete on multiple fronts, emphasizing that injured players are expected to return soon and academy graduates are prepared to step in as needed. This is crucial as Barcelona aims for success in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League after recently winning the Spanish Supercopa.

“Yes,” Flick affirmed when asked if he was satisfied with his squad as the transfer window approaches its closure. “We hope to see injured players return soon; Pedri is currently in recovery, while Gavi has been training more than before. Andreas Christensen is in a similar situation.

“I have a strong team with significant quality, and we also have talented players from Barça B and La Masia, like Tommy Marques and Jofre Torrents, who are ready to contribute. I am truly pleased with the quality we possess.”

Barcelona, leading Real Madrid by one point in LaLiga, will return to league action away against Elche on Saturday, having secured their spot directly in the Champions League round of 16 earlier in the week.

In other news, Barcelona midfielder Fermín López signed a contract extension until 2031, effectively quelling any interest from Chelsea in acquiring the Spain international at this time. Chelsea had explored a potential move for Fermín last summer, and although the transfer did not materialize, the threat of a Premier League club making a lucrative offer remained.

Consequently, Barcelona initiated negotiations to extend the 22-year-old’s contract earlier this month, aiming not only to fend off Premier League interest but also to reward him for his impressive performances this season.