How Dro’s sale helped Barcelona move a step closer to the 1:1 Fair Play rule – report | OneFootball

Barcelona’s January transfer window was marred by the departure of one of La Masia‘s most gifted talents in the form of Pedro Fernandez ‘Dro’.

The youngster midfielder left Barça in favour of a move to Paris Saint-Germain in order to seek more game time at the highest level of football.

While Dro’s exit to PSG was certainly disappointing for Barcelona, the club’s president, Joan Laporta, has used the transfer proceeds masterfully.

Barcelona closing in on 1:1 rule

As reported by AS, the sale of Dro to Paris Saint-Germain for €8.5 million stands out not just for the fee, but for the diplomacy involved.

The price tag is significantly higher than his release clause, an overprice resulting from a newfound reconciliation between the two clubs.

Crucially, this transaction allowed the club to lift a €19 million bank guarantee that was provided last summer to ensure the registration of Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji.

Dro’s exit has helped Barcelona lift a crucial bank guarantee. (Picture credit: Instagram/@drofdezz)

Lifting this guarantee significantly improves Barcelona’s Financial Fair Play scenario. The club are convinced they will finally reach the 1:1 rule this summer, which would allow them to operate with total normality in the transfer market.

Apart from player sales, Barcelona are also relying on a key project in the United Arab Emirates to return to the 1:1 rule.

The project, which includes branding for a residential/commercial compound in Dubai and four skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi, is expected to provide a massive boost.

The club may have already received an initial €11 million payment. However, this deal remains contingent on ratification by the summer Assembly and the outcome of the presidential elections on March 15.

As it stands, only one €7 million guarantee remains pending, relating to budget deviations in the club’s other professional sections.