Every summer at Barça brings a new name to the table. A promise, a surprise. This year that name is Dro Fernández.
Few expected him on the tour of Japan and South Korea, and he wasn't even considered a favorite. But after just a few training sessions, Hansi Flick saw it clearly, Dro had something different, a special spark. The German coach, who rarely gets his first impressions wrong, bet on him and the boy delivered.
A talent that demands attention
Dro is only 17 years old. The son of a Galician father and a Filipino mother, he has developed between Juvenil B and Juvenil A, Belletti's champion team. His progress has been quiet but steady, and this preseason has changed everything.
In his first friendly with the first team, he didn't take long to make an impact. Just 10 minutes were enough for him to score a stunning goal and show his quality. Elegant ball control, speed, arriving from the second line, and a great shot—his introduction was flawless.
A boy from La Masia with Barça DNA
Dro can play as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, or even winger; he adapts, understands the game, and always looks for the ball, he doesn't hide. He has something you can't train: personality.
Flick described him like this after the match:
"Dro? He's a great talent and a clear example of the fantastic work being done at La Masia. He has very good ball control, but he still has room for improvement. We have top-level midfielders, so it's not easy to find a place there."
The message is clear: he has talent, but things must be taken slowly.
The shadow of precedents
The cases of Lamine Yamal or Pau Cubarsí are exceptional and that's why they can't be used as a benchmark. Both reached the first team at just 16 and 17 years old, yes, but that's not the norm. Patience is key.
The same is being asked for Dro, he must be protected and surrounded well. He shouldn't skip stages before his time, because the potential is there, but so is the pressure.
What's ahead
The tour of Asia isn't over. There are two matches left in South Korea and then the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como. Three new opportunities to see Dro in action, three matches to keep dreaming.
Will this be the summer when another star is born? Flick is already thinking about it and he's not alone.
Dro Fernández has arrived quietly, but what he brings smells like something big. His talent isn't a coincidence, it's work, it's instinct, and it's Barça. Let it not be said that there was no warning: make way for Dro, because he's coming strong.