Barcelona are not hiding their frustration over a recent exit. Club president Joan Laporta has publicly addressed the situation surrounding a departing player.
He had pushed for a move to European giants. And his comments from Laporta made it clear that the departure has not gone down well inside the club.
Dro Fernandez’s rise had been rapid. During the summer preseason tour, he impressed new head coach Hansi Flick.
Also, he quickly emerged as one of the most exciting young players around the first team. However, things changed quickly.
The teenager later found himself on the receiving end of public criticism, with Flick even pointing to Marcus Rashford as an example of the commitment required to represent Barcelona.
Fernandez only turned 18 in January. That meant he was still on an academy contract when the winter window opened. Meanwhile, Barcelona had a clear plan.
Laporta confirmed that the club wanted to renew Fernandez’s deal once he turned 18. That renewal would have included improved terms and, crucially, a much higher release clause.
But that plan collapsed. The €6 million release clause remained intact once it became clear that Fernandez wanted to leave.
Despite making five senior appearances in the first half of the season, including a Champions League start, the youngster was unhappy with his role.
Paris Saint-Germain moved quickly. They beat competition from Premier League and Bundesliga clubs to secure an agreement, triggering the clause and completing the move.
Laporta did not hide his disappointment. While speaking to Catalunya Radio, the Barcelona president said:
“He’s announced he won’t be continuing. It’s an unpleasant situation. We’ll be able to rectify the situation as it was initially presented. It was a surprise.
“We had agreed on another solution for Dro when he turned 18, and surprisingly, his agent told us we couldn’t honor our agreement.
“We’ll try to make it work out in the best possible way for Barça’s interests.”
Laporta added that Barcelona will now focus on protecting the club’s interests.
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