Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, has commented on the transfer of Dro Fernandez to Paris Saint-Germain. The executive believes his former player lacked patience and absolves PSG.

Barcelona has a heavy heart. While Hansi Flick thought he had shown him enough trust, Dro Fernandez chose to join PSG this winter, a few days after celebrating reaching the age of majority.

A transfer that has caused anger from the German coach and his management, but also from several Barcelona players, who believe their club did not do what was necessary to keep its prospect.

Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, spoke at length on the subject in an interview granted on Wednesday to TNT Sports Brazil. And the former number 10 was very critical of Dro:

"He was a boy who turned 16 in January 2024. In March, he signed his first professional contract, and during that period, he came to train with us two or three times. For us, it's not the agent that matters, but the player's profile. At the start of last season, he came to train with the first team. Flick appreciated him, and even though there were several players in that position, the coach became fond of him."

"In Dro's case, he had a clause of six million, like most players who sign their first contract, and all I could do was explain to him the idea we had for him and the context in which he could flourish here. The coach helped him, had him train, and took him on the preseason tour. The disappointment comes a bit from there, with all due respect to PSG, which is a spectacular club and where I have friends, like Luis Campos."

MORE: PSG Completes Defensive Transfer Move On Deadline Day

The Barcelona executive indeed does not blame PSG, which did not provoke Dro's departure in his view and simply took advantage of a market opportunity following a personal choice by the player.

"If I were young and playing at Barcelona, I wouldn't change, but everyone makes their own choices. We all know influences exist; we don't know if it comes from the parents, but it's his problem, it's not a financial issue."

"We reached an agreement with Paris thanks to the good relations that exist between the two clubs, but Paris did not influence this decision. I hope he will be happy, that he will grow as a player, but that he is not in too much of a hurry, whether here or in Paris, it could be detrimental to him. Sometimes, the methods and the people involved are not the right ones."

After dressing down Dro and his entourage for the winter, targeting without naming his agent Ivan de la Pena, Deco concluded his remarks with a statement full of bad faith that still smelled of bitterness.

"There is no need to make a big drama out of Dro's departure. He was one player among others in the first team's dynamic; he made this decision, and that's it."

Ironically, Dro and PSG could face Barcelona as early as the Round of 16 of the Champions League if they win against Monaco or Qarabag in the playoffs.

If they qualify for the Round of 16, PSG will face either Chelsea or Barcelona, and this time, Dro will be eligible to play for PSG (he can also play in the playoffs). Something to add even more spice to that matchup.

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