Reason why 17-year-old Barcelona wonderkid is absent from squad list vs Valencia | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will take on Valencia in a few hours in their first home game of the 2025/26 season at Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Barcelona go into the game with many key players absent as Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde are all unavailable due to physical issues.

Another absentee from the squad list that Hansi Flick announced today was teenage gem Pedro Fernandez ‘Dro’.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has featured in the matchday squad for each of Barça’s first three games this season, but was not called up to face Valencia.

Dro missing due to a knock

According to Mundo Deportivo, Dro is recovering from a knock which he picked up last weekend, leading to his absence from the squad.

The youngster picked up the knock last weekend in Barça Atletic’s fixture against Porreres at Estadi Johan Cruyff, which they won 2-0.

Dro is recovering from a knock. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

The young midfielder was forced off in the 75th minute of the game after the clash, replaced by Marques, and is still recovering from the blow.

As a result, he was unable to train with the reserve team or the first-team squad this Friday.

It led to the 17-year-old La Masia gem not being called up by Juliano Belletti for Barça Atletic’s game on Saturday. And he was left out of the first-team squad list today by Flick as well.

It remains to be seen if Dro recovers fully in time for Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League opener against Newcastle United next Thursday and if Flick considers taking the 17-year-old gem to England for the clash.