Paris Saint-Germain has snatched one of Barcelona’s brightest young stars. Dro Fernandez has signed with the French champions for €8.2 million, and the news has hit Catalonia like a punch to the gut. Barcelona president Joan Laporta didn’t hold back, calling the transfer an “unpleasant” shock and accusing the teenager’s camp of breaking their word on his future.

PSG made it official on Monday—Fernandez is theirs until 2030, and he’ll wear the No. 27 shirt. He couldn’t hide his excitement either. “I’m very happy and very proud to join Paris Saint-Germain. This is a huge moment for my family,” he told the club’s media. “PSG is a massive club I’ve followed since I was a kid, where legends have made history. I can’t wait to play and give everything for this shirt.”

As for Laporta, the whole thing feels like a betrayal. The relationship between Barcelona and PSG has always been tense, and this move just turned up the chill. Speaking to Catalunya Radio, Laporta sounded genuinely hurt. “We’ll speak when everything is finally settled,” he said. “It’s been an unpleasant situation. We thought we had a plan for Dro when he turned 18: a new agreement. Out of nowhere, his agent told us he couldn’t honour it. We could have fixed this, but now it’s too late.”

For Barcelona, losing Fernandez stings even more because he was on such a rapid rise. Over the past six months, he’d jumped straight into the first team, making it clear that the club saw him as a future pillar. He joined the senior squad for the pre-season tour in South Korea, getting to train with Barca’s biggest names. By September, he’d already made his La Liga debut in a gritty 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

It got better in October—Fernandez played his first Champions League match and managed to notch an assist in the 6-1 rout of Olympiakos. Five senior appearances, four in La Liga, all before turning 19. For a player to break through so quickly, only to walk away halfway through his breakout year, it’s a huge blow for Barcelona.

This isn’t a new story for Barca fans, though. PSG have a habit of swooping into La Masia, Barcelona’s famed academy. They took Xavi Simons in 2019, and the Neymar saga still haunts the club. The €8.2 million fee for Fernandez is a lot for a kid with just a handful of senior games, but PSG clearly see something special. For them, it’s another step in their plan to build with the best young talent, not just buy the biggest names.

For Barcelona, though, the money hardly makes up for losing a homegrown midfielder who was already making a difference. Yes, the club’s financial struggles are no secret, but selling a promising academy product for what feels like a bargain price is a bitter pill to swallow.

Coach Hansi Flick summed it up last week, before the deal was done: “As coaches, we try to give young players confidence so they can grow. I know there are people around him. If he decides to leave, we’ll deal with it. But now’s not the time to talk.”

Now, Fernandez has a fresh start. He’ll try to make his mark on Luis Enrique’s PSG squad and settle into life in Ligue 1. New country, new league, new language—and all eyes on him. But if his short spell in Barcelona’s first team is anything to go by, he’s got the personality to cope. Meanwhile, Barcelona are left picking up the pieces, wondering how a deal they thought was locked in completely fell apart, and watching yet another academy jewel slip through their fingers.

Barcola, just 23, was everywhere—PSG’s most dangerous player all night as they hammered away at Auxerre’s goal. It felt like a stalemate was locked in, though. Auxerre’s keeper, Donovan Leon, kept pulling off save after save, and with only ten minutes left, the home fans probably believed they’d hold PSG to a second straight 0-0 here.

Then Barcola finally broke through.

Luis Enrique, even after the win, didn’t look happy. The victory pushed PSG back above Lens for now, but Lens can take the top spot back if they beat Marseille on Saturday. Still, Enrique didn’t hide his frustration. “It’s obvious; it’s a weird moment for us. We’re putting pressure on Lens, and that matters,” he said, still stung by their shocking 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League just days before.

“We’re missing some confidence, not sharp enough in finishing our chances. It was tough tonight,” he went on. “These guys aren’t robots. Our passing and movement were off.” He wasn’t too worried, though. “We can fix it. Everyone knows how much talent we’ve got.”

Auxerre’s night was about survival. They’re still stuck deep in the relegation zone, six points from safety.

From the first whistle, PSG came out flying. They could’ve been up by three inside ten minutes. Barcola forced two big saves out of Leon, and Diomande slid in with a desperate block to deny Kvaratskhelia. Leon was busy again before the half-hour, diving to keep out a Ramos header. Right after, he scrambled to make a double save—first stopping Kvaratskhelia, then smothering a follow-up from the young Ibrahim Mbaye.

After halftime, PSG kept pouring forward. Barcola whipped a shot just wide. Kvaratskhelia’s effort took a deflection and missed the post by inches. Barcola even tried a cheeky chip that landed, heart-stoppingly, right on top of the net.

Auxerre had a couple of long-range tries from Namaso and Sinayoko, but PSG’s keeper, Chevalier, barely broke a sweat.

Barcola just wouldn’t quit. He tore down the wing again, chipped a cross over Leon—who’d raced way off his line—but sub Desire Doue somehow poked wide with the goal gaping.

Barcola finally got his reward. Auxerre had pushed too many forward for a corner, got caught out, and Dembele slipped Barcola in. This time, he made no mistake.