Paris Saint Germain manager Luis Enrique has delivered a cryptic, no comment response when grilled over his club’s surprise move for Barcelona’s teenage starlet Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez.
The La Masia graduate, who only turned 18 recently, looks set for a stunning exit from the Catalan club this month after telling bosses he wants regular football to aid his development. His bargain €6 million release clause has sparked a frantic scramble across Europe, with Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City all registering interest. But it’s PSG who’ve now reportedly tabled a formal offer, throwing the kid’s future wide open.
Enrique, who of course knows Barcelona inside out from his time there, was having none of it when journalists asked about the link in his pre match presser. “I don’t know, I don’t answer,” the Spaniard said bluntly when questioned on PSG’s January plans and specifically their pursuit of Dro. It’s classic Luis Enrique keeping his cards close to his chest and leaving everyone else to do the guessing.
The attacking midfielder forced his way into the first team picture after a dazzling pre season tour of Asia. He’s managed five senior appearances so far this campaign, notching one assist in just 148 minutes of action. That’s a tidy return for a kid just finding his feet, and Barca were reportedly ready to tie him down to a new deal after his 18th birthday. They’ve been left blindsided by his desire to move on.
For Dro, the allure of linking up with Enrique could be massive. The PSG gaffer has a proven track record of trusting youth and knows the Barcelona system better than anyone. But let’s be honest, the Parisians’ squad is stacked with talent and there’s no guarantees of minutes there either. It’s a huge gamble for the youngster, but one he seemingly wants to take.
Where this leaves Barcelona is another matter. Losing another bright academy spark for peanuts will hurt, especially to a growing European rival. All eyes now are on whether Dro’s head has been turned for good, and if PSG’s cheeky bid can pry him away. One thing’s for sure, this saga has a few more twists left in it.
