Barcelona set to offer new contract to 18-year-old La Masia gem Flick trusts fully

Following in the footsteps of Marc Bernal and Marc Casado from last season, Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez is the latest La Masia gem enjoying his first-team breakthrough at FC Barcelona this campaign.

Having impressed manager Hansi Flick heavily in pre-season, the young attacking midfielder has continued in the first-team dynamics, despite not playing many minutes.

Contract renewal on the cards

As Dro celebrates his 18th birthday today, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona intend to hand him a new contract in the coming weeks.

Dro is one of the academy gems that generates the most excitement within Barça’s sporting structure.

Contract renewal on the horizon for Dro. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

He has the full trust and backing of Flick, even though he was one of the players left out of the squad for the Super Cup final alongside Jofre Torrents and Diego Kochen.

Dro’s current contract runs until 2027, but Barcelona’s intention is to follow the same pathway used with players such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, both of whom renewed their deals upon reaching adulthood.

Dro has only played around 150 minutes so far for Barça across all competitions, but he could stand to gain minutes later this week when they face Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey.

The young attacking midfielder will be available for the Round of 16 cup tie after being released from the Spain U-18 squad, having initially been picked for a friendly vs Italy.

As for his contract extension, it is seen as a strategic step in securing the future of a special player, with Barcelona having total faith in his long-term potential.