Laporta breaks silence on Dro saga with thinly-veiled dig
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has finally addressed the Dro situation, expressing his disappointment while hinting at more revelations once the PSG deal is finalized.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has finally broken his silence on the Dro transfer saga, describing the situation as “unpleasant” and suggesting there’s more to be revealed once the deal with PSG is completed.
Unpleasant surprise
Following Hansi Flick’s earlier comments expressing disappointment, Laporta has now stepped into the fray with a similarly stern tone. Speaking to Catalunya Radio, the Barça president was measured but direct:
“We’ll talk about it when it’s completely done. He’s announced he won’t continue. It’s an unpleasant situation,” Laporta admitted.
The president’s frustration is palpable, particularly as the club apparently had plans to improve Dro’s contract once he turned 18 on January 12th. Instead, they were blindsided when the player’s agent informed them they couldn’t fulfill previous agreements.
Transfer details emerging
While Dro initially intended to trigger his €6 million release clause and walk away, the situation has evolved in recent days:
- Barcelona and PSG have now entered direct negotiations
- The Catalan club is expected to receive around €8.5 million
- The deal is reportedly close to completion
Laporta emphasized that Barcelona will protect its interests “until the last moment” in this transfer, suggesting he’s determined to extract maximum value from an unwanted situation.
Player isolation
Since communicating his decision to leave on January 16th, Dro has been training in isolation. The youngster:
- No longer participates in first-team training
- Is not involved with the B team either
- Can only work alone at club facilities
The treatment highlights how deeply disappointed Barcelona’s hierarchy feels, particularly Flick, who had integrated Dro into the first-team setup after being impressed during pre-season. The German coach had given the youngster his debuts in both La Liga and the Champions League this season before this sudden U-turn.
The Barcelona brass clearly feels proper mugged off by the whole affair, with both Flick and Laporta promising to reveal more details once Dro’s Paris move is finalized.