Manchester City reportedly made a strong push to lure Barcelona’s young attacking midfielder, Dro Fernández, during the summer transfer window, but the Spanish teenager opted to remain at Camp Nou despite what has been described as a “very attractive” offer.
The Sky Blues have maintained a deliberate strategy of scouting emerging stars from Europe’s top academies, with Spain, Portugal, and South America remaining key territories for their recruitment team.
Manchester City’s model—rooted in long-term development—has frequently pitted them against elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona in a race to sign football’s next generation of stars.
In recent months, City have been linked with a number of youthful prospects across various markets.
Reports suggested that they were leading the chase for Leicester City’s 16-year-old prodigy Jeremy Monga, while also monitoring promising South American forward Neiser Villarreal.
Spanish newspaper Sport, as translated by Sport Witness, revealed that Dro Fernandez rejected Manchester City after they made a “concrete effort” to sign 17-year-old who is one of the Barcelona’s most promising youth talents.
Despite still being registered with Barcelona’s youth team, Fernández has already drawn significant attention due to his composure on the ball, sharp decision-making, and intelligent movement—qualities that have made him one of the standout names in La Masia’s current crop.
The report stated that the teenager’s representative received several proposals last summer, including “very attractive offers” from clubs outside Spain.
Manchester City’s proposal was described as having “conditions far superior” to what the young midfielder currently earns at Barcelona.
Such terms reportedly forced Barcelona’s hand, prompting swift action from within the club to secure Fernández’s future and prevent him from departing to England.
How Barcelona responded to City’s approach
Barcelona’s financial difficulties have meant that the club has leaned heavily on its youth academy in recent years, not only as a source of affordable talent but also as the foundation for their long-term sporting vision.
The rise of players like Lamine Yamal and Fermín López has reaffirmed the importance of La Masia, and Dro Fernández is seen internally as the next potential breakthrough star.
City’s attempt to prise the teenager away reportedly served as a wake-up call for the Catalan giants.
According to Sport, once news of the Premier League club’s offer reached Barcelona, club executives moved quickly to promote Fernández to the senior setup as a signal of their confidence in his potential.
The promotion also came with the intention of offering him an improved contract in 2026, securing his place within Hansi Flick’s long-term plans.
Fernández has already started making an impression at the senior level, having trained extensively with the first team and featured in pre-season matches.
His performances during summer preparations impressed Flick and his coaching staff, leading to his inclusion in Champions League matchday squads.
The young midfielder even registered an assist during one of Barcelona’s European outings, underlining why he is regarded as one of Spain’s brightest emerging playmakers.
The Sport report stated that although Dro Fernández rejected Manchester City, his current deal includes an “affordable” release clause with the specific figure remains undisclosed.
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That clause, coupled with growing interest from top European sides, has reportedly prompted Barcelona to accelerate contract renewal discussions earlier than expected.
For the Catalan club, the priority now is ensuring that Fernández feels valued and sees a clear pathway into regular first-team football.
Club insiders believe his profile fits perfectly with Barcelona’s possession-based style and that his continued growth could mirror that of midfield icons such as Pedri or Gavi.
The decision to integrate him earlier into the senior environment was as much about development as it was about deterrence—signalling to rival clubs that Barça intend to protect their most promising assets.
