Dro Fernandez, Young Talent of Filipino Descent Set to Leave Barcelona

The name Dro Fernandez once emerged as a symbol of Barcelona's regeneration at the start of the season. The young attacking midfielder of Filipino descent grabbed attention with his promising performances in preseason matches. Those performances flew him from the U-19 team to the first team. 

However, six months later, Dro's journey at Camp Nou is now at a crossroads.

A report by SPORT indicates that Dro Fernandez is set to leave Barcelona before the January transfer window closes. 

The player and his agent have decided to depart from Camp Nou. This decision has been communicated to coach Hansi Flick.

Dro's release clause, valued at 6 million euros or approximately Rp117 billion, is expected to be activated imminently. He is said to have chosen to continue his career outside of Spain, starting a new chapter while still very young.

Dro joined Barcelona in 2022 and developed rapidly at the academy level. His natural talent as an attacking midfielder impressed Flick during preseason. 

Flick then gave him significant trust by including him in the first-team squad from the start of the 2025/2026 Season. However, the reality of competition at the highest level hasn't always aligned with the initial promise. 

Throughout this season, Dro has only accumulated 148 minutes of play from five matches with the Barcelona first team. 

He was trusted to start twice, including during his Champions League debut, where he recorded his first professional career assist as Barcelona thrashed Olympiacos.

Unfortunately, that momentum didn't continue. Dro has not received any playing opportunities since December 2, 2025. Speculation about his future intensified when his name was omitted from the Barcelona squad against Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey on Friday, January 17.

Behind Dro's decision lies an unresolved contract story. Barcelona had actually planned to renew Dro's contract with improved terms after the player turned 18. However, Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, failed to finalize the renewal process.

With a release clause considered relatively inexpensive for a talented young player, several clubs are reported to be ready to submit offers. 

The intense competition in Barcelona's midfield is also a driving factor in Dro's desire to leave. He has to compete with established names like Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, who are Flick's preferred choices.