Joan Laporta on Barcelona talent’s surprise exit: ‘It’s been an unpleasant situation’ | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke at length to Catalunya Radio (h/t SPORT), addressing several key issues currently shaping the club. 

From the brilliance of Lamine Yamal against Oviedo to ongoing concerns around the Camp Nou redevelopment and the unexpected exit of young talent Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez, Laporta touched on both the joy and frustration.

The president began by reflecting on Yamal’s stunning goal, a moment that left everyone in awe. 

Speaking with visible excitement, Laporta described the strike as something truly special, saying, 

“We saw a work of art from Lamine. That goal alone makes it worth going to the stadium. It’s one of those goals that defines a player and a stadium. 

“He has a style of play that lends itself to goals of this beauty, like his curling shots from outside the box.” 

Camp Nou development

Laporta then turned his attention to the unusual scenes that followed the match, as heavy rain caused visible issues at Spotify Camp Nou, sparking criticism and debate. 

Acknowledging the situation, the president mixed honesty with reassurance. He explained the context behind what happened and the current state of the stadium works, stating, 

Spotify Camp Nou witnessed heavy rain last night. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“We all got wet. We knew it could happen, but in the end, the rain accompanied the victory. It’s as if we witnessed the rain christening of Camp Nou. 

“The stadium is under construction and we will make any necessary repairs as we go along. This is normal and will be resolved. 

“The stadium is progressing at a good pace and everything is on track. The 1C license was supposed to be ready in early January, but there has been a delay. 

“Now we’ll see if we have it for Mallorca, but I’m not giving up yet.” 

Dro’s departure

Finally, Laporta addressed one of the most sensitive topics for Barcelona supporters – the departure of Dro. 

The president made it clear that the situation was not what the club had expected and expressed his disappointment with how events unfolded. Laporta said, 

“We will talk when everything is finalised. It’s been an unpleasant situation. 

“We will be able to resolve this situation as planned, but it’s been a surprise because we had agreed on a new solution with Dro when he turned 18, and surprisingly, his agent told us that he couldn’t fulfil the agreement,” he said.