The Dro phenomenon, the new pearl of La Masia

Being 17 years old and scoring a goal for Barça on your debut is something so exceptional it changes anyone's life. That's what's happening to Pedro Fernández, known as Dro (2008), an exquisite midfielder who made the most of the 17 minutes Hansi Flick gave him in the preseason friendly against Vissel Kobe. Suddenly, this young Galician from Nigrán, a town bordering Vigo, with a Filipino mother and a Galician father—and a former Celta B player—is the center of attention of the entire Spanish and international sports press. This is what happens when a new product of La Masia hits the ground running. But Dro's story at Barça is just beginning.

The first to praise his new gem was Hansi Flick. “He's a great talent and a clear example of the fantastic work being done at La Masia. He trained with us at the end of last season. He has very good ball control, but still has room for improvement. I'm happy, and not just because of the goal,” the German coach explained yesterday.

He is a great talent and a clear example of the fantastic work being done at La Masia.” Hansi Flick, Barça Coach

Dro's football story begins at Val Miñor as a child. "The first day he came, he was tiny, about 4 or 5 years old, and he cried and cried because he didn't want to stay to train. He had to go with his mother. Afterwards, they had to try again a couple more times. In the end, he liked it and stayed." This is Javier Roxo, director of the Val Miñor football school, one of the most prestigious youth football institutions in the Vigo area. Talents such as Thiago Alcántara, Rafinha, Rodrigo Moreno, and Santi Comesaña have trained there. In recent days, more than a dozen journalists have disrupted the tranquility of this modest club by asking about the young Barça player. "Even the New York Times has called me. I hope all this doesn't affect the kid. I'm sure it won't, because his head is very straight," he assures.

From day one, it was clear that Dro had been struck by a magic wand, that he was a different kind of player. “Kids like Dro already come with special talent. It's not like we did anything. They're coordinated and have a different vision of the game from a young age,” Roxo acknowledges. Specifically, the youngster from Nigrán “has very good initial control, beautiful dribbling, with his head up, elegant. He was far superior to what we had here in Galicia.” Roxo, who never coached him but has known him since the first day he set foot in the school, prefers to see him “close to the box,” because “that's where he makes the difference. It's where he has that talent for seeing a pass that others don't.”

Dro is a game changer around the box. He has that talent for seeing what others can't. Javier Roxo Director of the Val Miñor school

Dro's growth was unstoppable, and the first to knock on the door was Celta Vigo. "Celta came. What they didn't manage was to take him away. Dro wanted to stay with us, and then, in the end, when they were about to make the decision, Celta didn't make a strong commitment either." The decision came when Dro turned 15. "Barça had wanted him for a long time. So did Madrid. But Dro lives in a very settled family environment, with a comfortable financial situation. They decided to wait a little while for the boy to mature."

For Roxo, Dro is a player unlike any other who has played at his school, but if he had to compare him to anyone, it would be Thiago. "I'm not going to put him above the others, but at Thiago's level," he admits. And he ends by pointing out that he has something of a kindred spirit. His name is Pedro Villar (Villi). They both entered the Val Miñor school together at age 4 and grew up being the terror of their local rivals. They were known as the Pedros ' team. They both signed for the Blaugrana club the same year and now share a room at La Masia.

This preseason has seen their paths diverge. Dro has gone on tour with Barça and today he has another opportunity in Flick's match against FC Seoul (1 p.m.) to continue showcasing the talent that is on track to make him this summer's football phenomenon.