FC Barcelona legend Luis Enrique personally convinced La Masia product Dro Fernandez to join him at Paris Saint-Germain according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
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FC Barcelona legend Luis Enrique personally convinced La Masia product Dro Fernandez to join him at Paris Saint-Germain according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
The youngster infuriated Hansi Flick just over a week ago, and told him on Friday morning ahead of a defeat to Real Sociedad that he would be leaving via his paltry $7 million (€6 million) release clause getting triggered by an then-unnamed club.
Flick sent a warning to La Masia youngsters and their entourages at a press conference to preview the La Real tie, stating: “We are Barca. Here you can grow, train with the best players, and get full support.”
“If you want to play at Barca, then it’s 100% with your whole heart. You have to live for Barca colours. All the others, I do not want,” Flick added.
Later that afternoon, L’Equipe and Mundo Deportivo revealed the club that had turned Dro’s head was Paris Saint-Germain.
In the meantime, though, amid Barca reportedly wanting a higher €10 million fee from PSG as a goodwill gesture, SPORT has explained that Luis Enrique played a huge role in luring the teenager whom Flick gave his first team debut to earlier this term.
FC Barcelona legend Luis Enrique reportedly met Dro Fernandez personally
On a trip to the Catalan capital, Luis Enrique personally met with Dro and “seduced” the youngster with his sporting project which was “unrejectable”.
Dro reportedly saw how he will be of “great importance” in the French capital, with Luis Enrique’s speech resonating with the attacker to the point he decided to put an end to his blossoming Barca career as a consequence.
Dro saw his path to regular minutes blocked at FC Barcelona
Dro’s future at Barca looked promising after Flick took him on a preseason tour of Asia and gave him his first minutes in the professional ranks.
A starting debut in the Champions League, where he provided an assist against Olympiakos, must have given him further encouragement. But then not featuring since a December 2 win over Atletico Madrid in the league, as well as Luis Enrique’s meeting, have ultimately influenced a move away.
With the likes of Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi in his way, Dro probably also felt it would be difficult to become a CAM regular at FC Barcelona.