Breakdown Between Hansi Flick and Dro After Young Midfielder Decides to Leave Barcelona

The relationship between Hansi Flick and Dro has reached a breaking point. From the moment the young midfielder informed the club of his intention to leave, the German coach asked him to leave the locker room and immediately removed him from first-team activities.

Flick had viewed Dro as a personal project. He even took him on the Asian preseason tour almost unexpectedly, impressed by his boldness, ability to turn under pressure, and creative influence in midfield. Those qualities caught the coach’s attention early, leading Flick to trust him over players with greater seniority within the squad.

The German manager handed Dro significant opportunities, starting him against Real Sociedad and later showing confidence in him again versus Olympiacos. Although his minutes later became more sporadic, Flick continued to see him as a long-term piece within FC Barcelona’s sporting project.

Everything changed once Dro communicated his decision to move on. Flick felt betrayed, and his reaction was immediate and firm. The emotional impact was evident during last Saturday’s press conference, where the coach subtly hinted at how deeply the news affected him. Since then, Dro has been completely excluded from the group.

He was not called up for the LaLiga match against Real Sociedad, did not appear in the club’s official team photo, and was left behind when the squad traveled to Prague. Currently, the player is training alone while waiting to activate his €6 million release clause, which will allow him to sign with another club.

From Dro’s perspective, remaining at Barcelona under the current project would have left him stuck with limited chances to earn consistent minutes. That belief ultimately pushed him to change direction, fully aware that the decision would carry immediate consequences for his relationship with the coaching staff.

The situation leaves a bitter taste at the club. A player once tipped for a bright future departs amid a fractured relationship, creating tension and unresolved wounds within the Barcelona dressing room.