The tragic family history behind Barça's Dro Fernández move to PSG
Barcelona's La Masia gem Dro Fernández has joined PSG until 2030, but behind the transfer lies a shocking family tragedy that shaped the young Galician's life.
Young Galician talent Dro Fernández has left Barcelona for PSG in a move that has shocked many Culés, but few know about the harrowing family tragedy that marks the 18-year-old’s background.
Barcelona’s La Masia gem departs
Dro Fernández, one of La Masia’s brightest prospects, has completed a surprising move to Paris Saint-Germain, signing until 2030. The talented midfielder, who turned 18 on January 12th, had been training with Hansi Flick’s first team since pre-season and was considered one of Barcelona’s key projects for the future.
Barça had been keen to extend his contract (which was set to run until 2027) for an additional four years, but the youngster has opted for the Parisian club instead. Dro joined Barcelona at just 14 years old from Val Miñor, but his personal story runs much deeper than his footballing journey.
The Nigrán tragedy that shaped his family
While Dro himself was born in 2008, his family history was forever altered by events that took place on January 31st, 1992 - a horrific crime that occurred in the Galician town of Nigrán:
- Two national police officers murdered four people in a chalet in Nigrán
- The victims were businessman David Fernández, his wife Pilar Sanromán, their daughter Marta, and housekeeper Ana Isabel Costas
- The officers entered the house in uniform, attempting to kidnap the couple and steal their money
- Two of the couple’s children managed to escape - one of them was Pedro, Dro’s father
David Fernández, Dro’s grandfather, was the Vice President of Celta Vigo at the time. The police officers, Manuel Lorenzo and Jesús Vela, were arrested in February 1994 and later sentenced to 212 years in prison in 1996 after being found guilty of multiple crimes including illegal detention, assassination, and attempted homicide.
From tragedy to talent
Pedro Fernández Sarmiento (known as Dro) was born in 2008, the grandson of victims David Fernández and Pilar Sanromán, nephew of Marta Fernández, and son of survivor Pedro Fernández and Ella Mae.
In a twist that added further pain to the family’s history, the convicted ex-police officers were released in November 2013 after changes to Spain’s Parot Doctrine, which affected how prison sentences were calculated.
Now, the young midfielder’s move to PSG represents a new chapter in his life, though the shadow of his family’s tragedy continues to be part of his story as he makes his way in professional football.