Barcelona academy gem could get more minutes vs Real Betis amid key absences | OneFootball

After Dani Olmo’s injury, and the substitutions of Pedri and Raphinha due to fatigue, against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick turned to Pedro Fernandez ‘Dro’ to help the team out in the closing stages of the game at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It was the teenage wonderkid’s fifth senior appearance of the season, and he played his part, getting involved in the buildup to Ferran Torres’ goal in stoppage time by winning a duel against Conor Gallagher.

More minutes for Dro?

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, with Olmo ruled out for a month and Fermin Lopez also recovering from an injury, Flick could hand more minutes to Dro in the coming games, starting with the trip to face Real Betis on Saturday.

Against Atletico, Dro came on at a moment of maximum tension and did not hesitate. Even though he is still a developing player, minutes at the top level are helping him mature.

Barcelona’s next breakout talent. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Despite being a standout talent, the coaching staffs he passed through at La Masia had to work on several aspects of his game.

Dro had to adapt to a different style upon joining the club, but had some wonderful coaches along the way to help him – Pol Planas in Cadet B and Juvenil B, and under Arnau Blanco, now part of Flick’s staff, in Cadet A.

With extra lessons to understand how to move, and where and when to appear, Dro began to feel more involved. In a few months, he went from an average of 30 involvements per match to more than double, around 70. His shooting from outside the box was also refined.

And it was not long before he was being counted among the most exciting youth prospects coming through. Now fully integrated into the first-team dynamics, Dro can see more minutes in the games to come under Flick.