Manchester City among European giants interested in Barcelona starlet with enticing release clause | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City are eyeing a move for one of the next rising names within Barcelona’s youth ranks, with the player in question expected to leave this month.

City’s continued emphasis on youth recruitment has once again placed them in direct competition with Europe’s biggest clubs, as the Etihad Stadium hierarchy look to capitalise on opportunities created by contractual situations at top academies.

Over recent seasons, City have developed a reputation for identifying technically gifted young players capable of fitting into Pep Guardiola’s tactical model, while also offering a long-term pathway through the City Football Academy and beyond.

This approach has been reflected in a number of previous reports linking City with high-profile academy prospects from Spain, Germany, France, and South America among various other locations across the globe.

The club’s strategy is increasingly built around securing players before market value explodes, particularly when favourable release clauses are present, and that same philosophy has already seen City move aggressively for several teenage talents across Europe.

Barcelona’s youth system has long been regarded as one of the finest in football, and any player emerging from La Masia inevitably attracts attention. However, ongoing financial pressures at the Catalan club have created an environment where highly-rated prospects are sometimes forced to consider exits earlier than expected.

And now, according to the information of Ben Jacobs, all of Chelsea, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund are three of the contenders interested in Barcelona attacker Dro Fernández, alongside other top European clubs in the mix including from France.

As reported elsewhere, it is further pointed out that the 18-year-old has a €6 million release clause in his contract with the La Liga giants and is expected to leave Barcelona as early as this month.

The relatively modest valuation has instantly made Fernández one of the most attractive young opportunities, particularly for clubs like City – who are willing to invest in long-term development projects, and one that will be viewed as being highly compatible with the club’s possession-heavy style.

From Manchester City’s standpoint, any move would likely be framed around gradual integration, remaining comfortable in allowing an elite prospect to develop through their system.

Competition for the player’s signature, however, looks to be intense and both Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund possess strong reputations for providing pathways to young players, while interest from France adds another layer of complexity to negotiations.

Much will likely depend on Fernández’s own priorities, and whether he favours rapid first-team exposure, structured development, or long-term elite progression.