Barcelona president Joan Laporta has openly criticized the agent of young talent Dro—former Barcelona player Ivan de la Peña—blaming him for the player's departure to Paris Saint-Germain. According to Marca, Laporta described de la Peña's conduct as a disgrace and a treacherous betrayal.
Laporta stated that if the player had been represented by well-known agent Jorge Mendes, the transfer to PSG would have been avoided. He cited how Mendes helped Barcelona retain other young players like Lamine Yamal, contrasting that with Dro's exit caused by de la Peña's actions.
In an interview with AS, Laporta expressed that Dro's sudden departure was a painful blow and felt like a betrayal, with coach Hansi Flick particularly disappointed as Dro had earned first-team minutes. He condemned de la Peña for damaging the relationship with Barcelona despite maintaining professional ties with PSG.
Laporta also addressed other transfer topics, dismissing rumors about signing Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, praising Joao Cancelo's performance, and showing openness to extending Marcus Rashford's loan.
This harsh critique underscores ongoing tensions between Barcelona and certain agents, signaling possible challenges for retaining young talent and managing future transfers.
For fans, the situation with Dro is a reminder of the critical role that trust between club, players, and agents plays, and how agent maneuvers can impact team composition and player careers.
