Barcelona is looking to recover its essence of combinative and creative play in midfield, and Hansi Flick seems to be finding the pieces that fit that idea. Pedri, one of the team's leaders, is beginning to see a partner who could join him in creating and bring freshness to the midfield.
During this preseason, the German coach has tried different options in midfield, and the emergence of a young footballer with a profile that excites the Culers has been surprising. His way of interpreting the game and his vision are reminiscent of a golden era at Barça, when Andrés Iniesta's magic made the difference.
The gem that excites Barça
This new partner has a first and last name: Pedro Fernández Sarmiento, known as "Dro". At 17 years old, the Galician attacking midfielder has burst onto the preseason scene for the blaugrana, leaving a great impression. His story is that of a boy trained at Escuela Val Miñor before arriving at La Masia, who is now starting to carve out a place among the top players.
Those who have watched him grow emphasize that he isn't simply a "Pedri 2.0." His football is more reminiscent of Andrés Iniesta because of his elegance, tactical intelligence, and ability to find spaces between the lines. Javi Roxo, one of his coaches, sums it up: "Some compare him to Pedri, but I see more of Iniesta in him."
Those small technical details and his reading of the game have caught the attention of both the coaching staff and the fans.
A promising future
Dro joins the first team as the second youngest player Flick drafted for preseason. His participation has been one of the most exciting notes, showing patience on the ball, movement, and quality to create chances. His style fits a Barça that wants to recover creativity in midfield.
If he continues to develop with humility and effort, Pedro Fernández can become an important piece in the medium term. Playing alongside Pedri will not only allow him to learn from an immediate reference, but also offer the team a partnership that, if it works, can bring back to Barça the magic its fans so deeply desire.