The French club Paris Saint-Germain has entered the fray in the competition to acquire the young talent Drew Fernandez, currently at FC Barcelona.
Barcelona was left in a state of shock when Fernandez expressed his desire to leave the club in January by activating a release clause in his contract, set at 6 million euros.
According to reports from ESPN, the Parisian giant has emerged as a potential destination for the player, facilitated by coach Luis Enrique, who shares a strong friendship with Ivan de la Peña, Fernandez’s agent. This connection may ease the player’s transition to the “Parc des Princes.”
Barcelona’s relationship with PSG has been strained since the Brazilian star Neymar da Silva’s transfer to Paris in 2017, which involved the payment of a whopping 222 million euros release clause.
Speculations and Reactions
In a related development, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has confirmed through various sources within the Barcelona dressing room that Fernandez has informed his teammates of his intention to transfer to PSG.
However, the player’s representatives are currently denying these claims, asserting that Drew has not received any offer from PSG and that his next destination remains undecided.
Fernandez joined Barcelona in 2022 at the age of 14, quickly progressing through the club’s academy, leading to comparisons with illustrious names such as Thiago Alcantara and Pedri. He made a strong impression with the first team by scoring a stunning goal during a pre-season match against the Korean side Daegu, eventually making his official debut against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Despite participating in 5 matches with the first team this season and earning high praise from coach Hans Flick, sources indicate that the club was rattled by the communication received from the player and his representatives this week regarding his plans to leave.
This week, Fernandez celebrated his 18th birthday with a cake presented by his teammate Raphinha while on the flight back from winning the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid. Expectations within Barcelona were that he would renew his contract to increase his release clause value. However, the player surprised everyone with his decision to depart.
As of now, Fernandez’s final destination remains uncertain, but sources have confirmed to ESPN that, in addition to PSG’s interest, he is also being closely monitored by Borussia Dortmund. Furthermore, major clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea have been tracking the talented player for years and previously expressed interest in him.
