PSG’s Dro Sends Message to Barcelona After Debut: “Best Place for Me”

Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 statement victory over Marseille on Sunday night will be remembered for the scoreline, but inside the Parc des Princes the evening carried extra resonance for 19-year-old midfielder Dro Fernandez, who stepped onto the pitch in a PSG jersey for the first time since his January move from Barcelona.

Introduced in the second half of the one-sided Classique, Fernandez wasted little time showing why the capital club moved for him during the winter window. Operating in tight spaces and circulating possession quickly, the Spaniard completed 91 percent of his passes and drew three fouls from a frustrated Marseille midfield that struggled to contain his movement between the lines.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the final whistle, the former La Masia graduate could not hide his satisfaction at how quickly he has adapted to life in France.

“I am very happy,” he told L’Équipe. “My teammates have helped me since the first day. I felt very comfortable.”

Fernandez, who had watched PSG’s last three league matches from the bench, admitted the wait for his debut only increased his anticipation.

“Incredible. I really wanted to come here and experience it,” he said. “Yes, it was a very big match. With a spectacular victory like that, everyone is delighted.”

The midfielder’s seamless integration has been aided by a dressing-room culture he describes as “easy” and a coaching staff that places faith in youth.

“He is an incredible coach,” Fernandez said of his new manager, one of the primary factors that convinced him to swap Catalonia for Paris. “Everyone told me he was an incredible coach, and that’s one of the reasons I signed here. He really relies on young players.”

Sunday’s cameo lasted just 23 minutes, but Fernandez insists he is taking a long-term view.

“I take the minutes I’m given, I’m not in a rush. I will continue to work so that it continues like this and I get more playing time.”

Off the pitch, the transition to a new country has been smoothed by a club infrastructure eager to make him feel at home.

“Well, it’s another country, I’m still young. There are difficult moments, but everyone at the club gave me a great welcome and worked to make my settling in easier.”

Fernandez, who lifted the UEFA Youth League with Barcelona in 2022, refused to be drawn into direct comparisons with his former employers, yet his parting message carried an unmistakable tone of vindication.

“I think this is the best place for me, that’s why I’m here.”

If Sunday’s performance is any indication, PSG believe they have found another precocious talent capable of growing alongside their ambitious project. For Fernandez, the journey is only beginning.

“I hope to be here for many years and to experience many more” moments like this, he said, already looking ahead to the next chapter of his Parisian adventure.