Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea and Man City target ‘undergoing medical’ after Barcelona deal agreed

Chelsea fans, Man City fans, and football lovers everywhere woke up to a story that felt like a punch to the stomach. The kind of story that starts with hope, builds into a dream, and ends with a door slamming shut right in front of your face. It was the kind of transfer saga that makes you believe anything is possible, only for reality to come and remind you that football is not a fairy tale. And at the center of it all was an 18-year-old Barcelona wonderkid named Dro Fernández, a name that suddenly became the hottest topic in European football.

You could feel the excitement building. Chelsea, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund—some of the biggest clubs in the world—had all been linked with Dro. They were all trying to convince him to choose them, to become part of their future, to step into the spotlight and become the next big thing. And for a while, it looked like Chelsea might finally land another young gem, another star for the future, another player to build a new era around. But then the story changed, and it changed fast.

The news broke like a storm. Fabrizio Romano, the man whose words are treated like gospel in transfer circles, said it clearly and confidently: Dro Fernández was going to Paris Saint-Germain. The deal was confirmed. The talks were done. The transfer was sealed. Chelsea’s hopes were not just fading—they were disappearing right in front of their eyes. The dream was gone, and in its place was a cold, hard reality.

It wasn’t just any move. It was a move to PSG, the Champions League holders, a club that has spent years building a reputation for signing the best and the brightest. PSG didn’t just want Dro; they had already prepared everything. The fee was slightly higher than his release clause, the agreement with Barcelona was in place, and Dro himself had already agreed to the switch. The moment felt inevitable, like watching a train leave the station while you’re still running down the platform, screaming for it to wait.

Chelsea fans were left stunned, and not just because they had lost a player. They were stunned because this was supposed to be the kind of signing that changes the mood around the club. Chelsea has been searching for the next young superstar, the kind of player who can grow with the team, learn under pressure, and eventually become the face of the club. The kind of player who can bring hope to a squad that has been through so much. Dro was supposed to be that player.

But PSG had other plans. PSG had the power. PSG had the prestige. PSG had the pull. And when they decided to move, they moved quickly. The deal was done. Dro was set to undergo his medical, and everything was ready for the transfer to be completed. Chelsea and Manchester City had tried, Borussia Dortmund had made offers, but none of it mattered. PSG had already won.

It’s hard to overstate how big this was. The football world loves young talent. We always talk about the next generation, the next big star, the future of the game. But when a player like Dro emerges, people don’t just talk—they act. Scouts watch him. Coaches analyze him. Clubs reach out. The transfer market becomes a battlefield, and everyone wants to be the one who wins.

Dro Fernández was that kind of player. He was the kind of talent that makes people stop and say, “This one is special.” He was only 18, but he had already made a name for himself in Barcelona’s academy. He had come through the famous La Masia system, the same system that produced legends. He had been part of Barcelona’s youth teams since 2022, and he had already shown enough promise to earn senior appearances. In just five games for Barcelona’s first team, he had managed an assist. That might not sound like a lot to some people, but for a teenager breaking into one of the biggest clubs in the world, it was a sign that he was ready

And he wasn’t just a talented kid. He was a player with a vision, a player who could change a game. He could play as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing, and he had the kind of technical ability that makes fans sit up and watch. He had a style that felt modern, yet timeless. He was creative, he was brave, and he had the kind of confidence that only comes from believing in yourself.

But Barcelona’s loss was PSG’s gain. PSG moved in at the right moment, taking advantage of the uncertainty surrounding Dro’s future. Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, admitted he was surprised. He said there had been an agreement for Dro to extend his contract when he turned 18, but then the player’s agent changed his mind. Laporta called the situation “unpleasant,” and you could feel the frustration in his words. Barcelona had planned for Dro to stay, to grow, to become one of their own. But the plan collapsed. The future they had imagined slipped through their fingers.

That is the harsh truth of football. Plans are fragile. Dreams are fragile. Everything can change in an instant, and often the people who get hurt most are the ones who believed the hardest. Barcelona believed they had Dro locked down. Chelsea believed they had a chance. Manchester City believed they could convince him. Dortmund believed they could win him. But in the end, it was PSG who walked away with the prize.

Chelsea, in particular, must have felt the sting. They had been linked with Dro for weeks, and there had been hope. Chelsea has been trying to rebuild, trying to find the right pieces to bring back the glory days. The club has been searching for talent, and they have been investing in youth. The fans have been waiting for the next big star, the next player who can bring excitement and hope. Dro was one of those players.

But now Chelsea has to start over. They have to find a new target, a new dream, a new plan. And time is not on their side. The January window is closing. There is only one week left. That means Chelsea must act fast. They must decide quickly. They must find a player who can fill the gap, who can bring energy, who can make a difference.

And that is not easy. The January market is always difficult. There are fewer options. Many clubs are not willing to sell. Many players are not willing to move mid-season. And when you lose a target like Dro, it feels like the ground has been pulled from under you.

But Chelsea cannot afford to give up. They have important games ahead. They are heading to Napoli for their final Champions League group game, a match that could decide their future in the competition. Then they return to Stamford Bridge to host West Ham United. These are games that matter. These are games where the team needs confidence, momentum, and belief.

A transfer like Dro could have given them that. A signing like that could have lifted the mood around the club, given the players a boost, and given the fans something to believe in. But now Chelsea has to rely on what they have. They have to trust the players currently in the squad. They have to hope that the team can find a way to win without adding another star.

And that is where the story becomes more than just a transfer. It becomes a test of character. It becomes a test of whether Chelsea can still fight, whether they can still dream, whether they can still believe. Because football is not just about buying the best players. It is about resilience, about bouncing back, about finding a way when things don’t go your way.

Chelsea’s fans know this. They have been through so much. They have seen the club rise and fall, rebuild and fall again. They have watched the team spend money, change managers, change styles, and still struggle to find stability. They have lived through the chaos. And yet they still come back, because that is what football fans do. They hope. They believe. They wait for the moment when everything changes.

Dro Fernández was supposed to be part of that moment. He was supposed to be the next big star, the kind of player who could become the face of the club. But PSG took him. They took the dream and made it their own.

Now Chelsea must pick up the pieces. They must move on. They must find another path. They must find another player. They must find another dream.

But it is not just Chelsea who lost. Manchester City lost too. City has been known for building dynasties, for finding the right players, for turning talent into trophies. They have been linked with Dro, and they have been trying to build a future that continues to dominate Europe. A player like Dro could have fit perfectly into their system, adding depth, creativity, and youth. But City, like Chelsea, has to accept that the dream is gone.

Borussia Dortmund also lost. Dortmund has a history of developing young stars and then watching them leave for bigger clubs. They have built a reputation as a club that can spot talent early, nurture it, and then let the world come calling. Dro would have been a perfect fit for Dortmund’s philosophy. But even Dortmund, with their history of youth development, could not compete with PSG’s power.

So the football world watches as PSG prepares to welcome Dro. The club that already has some of the biggest names in the game now adds another young star to their squad. PSG’s ambition is clear. They want to dominate Europe. They want to win the Champions League. And they are willing to spend to achieve that goal. They are building a team that is not just strong, but unstoppable.

For Dro, this is a life-changing move. He is only 18, and already he is heading to one of the biggest clubs in the world. He will be surrounded by world-class players, coached by top managers, and playing in one of the most competitive leagues in Europe. This is a chance to grow, to learn, to become a star. But it is also a challenge. PSG is a club that expects success. There is pressure, there is expectation, and there is little room for mistakes.

Dro will need to be strong. He will need to adapt quickly. He will need to prove himself in a squad filled with talent. But if he succeeds, he could become one of the most exciting players in the world. He could become a symbol of PSG’s future. He could become the next big star in a club that is already full of stars.

And Barcelona? Barcelona must deal with the aftermath. They must find a way to move on from a player they believed would stay. They must manage the disappointment and the questions. Why did Dro leave? What went wrong? How did the club fail to keep him? These are questions that will be asked for a long time.

Laporta’s comments show that Barcelona did not expect this. They thought they had the situation under control. They thought Dro would extend his contract and remain part of the club’s future. But football is unpredictable. Players change their minds. Agents change deals. And clubs like PSG move quickly when they see an opportunity.

This is a reminder that football is not just about talent. It is about business. It is about power. It is about timing. And it is about who can move faster.

Chelsea’s hopes of signing Dro Fernández have ended. The dream is gone. But football never stops. The transfer window continues. The games continue. The season continues. Chelsea must now focus on what they can control. They must prepare for Napoli. They must prepare for West Ham. They must continue to fight. They must continue to believe.

Because football is always ready to give you another chance. Another player. Another dream. Another moment.

And for now, the football world will watch Dro Fernández as he takes the next step in his career, knowing that the future is always uncertain, and that in football, nothing is ever guaranteed.

The door may have closed for Chelsea, but the game keeps moving. And in football, the next story is always just around the corner.