Barça's Dembele Fix: A Clever Play to Secure Dru Fernandez's Departure
20 January 2026
Dru Fernandez Departure: Barça weighs a Dembele-style workaround
Spanish outlets revealed a plan to resolve the looming departure of Dru Fernandez, Barcelona's midfielder, who announced his exit ahead of January.
The Sport newspaper explained that the club and the player's agents opened talks in recent days to discuss how to complete the move, with the next step expected before the end of the week.
The report noted that Dru's agent, Ivan De La Peña, would formally inform the Catalan club of the destination where he is likely to continue his career after leaving Barça.
It added that a decisive negotiation phase would begin then, with Barça seeking a transfer fee without triggering any release clause.
The paper argued that Barça's investment in Dru and the improvement he has shown this season under coach Hansi Flick justify a final payout far above the six-million-euro clause.
In a twist, Barça reportedly reached a deal with Paris Saint-Germain to avoid activating the clause, agreeing instead on a final transfer fee of around €50.4 million.
Barça and the player's camp are said to be open to finalizing a deal, though its viability remains uncertain.
It is believed Barça could receive at least €10m to compensate for losing one of its most promising young talents.
Whether PSG, Manchester City, or Borussia Dortmund emerges as the destination, Barça will seek extra cash compensation for this football setback.
The saga underscores Barça's willingness to balance short-term finances with long-term development, even if the move comes with a price tag.
Punchline 1: My transfer policy is like a sniper—always precise, just not always on the right budget.
Punchline 2: If football negotiations were snipers, Barça would have a museum of recovered invoices and still call it progress.
