Barcelona’s ‘EXTREME CONCERN’ over superstar linked with Arsenal and Man City

Robin Bairner

• 5 Jan 2024 19:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona are said to be “extremely concerned” over the wellbeing of Pedri.

The 21-year-old was a sensation when he initially broke through at Camp Nou but has struggled for fitness this season to such an extent that he has played only 13 matches for the club.

It is amidst this backdrop that Barcelona have been rumoured to be considering offloading the 21-year-old in a transfer to Arsenal in the summer.

Pedri has spent two periods on the sidelines due to injury this season, missing around 10 weeks in the autumn because of a hamstring problem, while he is currently laid up because of a muscular issue. This concern has forced him to sit out matches against Almeria and Las Palmas – both games Barca have struggled in.

Fichajes reports that there is now “extreme concern” over the talented midfielder, with Barca fearing that he could be a player injury prone for the remainder of his career.

The Catalan side’s fear particularly surrounds the persistent quadriceps concerns that Pedri suffers from.

Barcelona believe that Pedri could have been burnt out during his first season at the club. During the 2020/21 campaign, he played 52 matches for the club as well as another 10 for Spain, seven more for the Olympic team and four matches for the U21s.

After playing 66 matches that season, he has managed only 76 in the last two-and-a-half years.

Barcelona reportedly hope that he can overcome these issues, but they now have reservations.

Pedri not short of transfer options

Arsenal are not the only club who have been linked with Pedri. The Spaniard is also attracting covetous eyes from Manchester City and Bayern Munich, with his technical qualities not putting off potential suitors.

The Gunners could use him as an alternative to Martin Odegaard or perhaps in a role similar to that they used Granit Xhaka in deeper in midfield, while Man City could use him to replace Kevin De Bruyne, a player linked with the Saudi Pro League and who is not short of his own injury concerns.

And Barcelona could land a substantial transfer windfall, which given their perilous financial position would be welcome.

Pedri commands an estimated transfer value of €65 million, which would surely be substantially higher if he could remain fit.

The payoff for the buying club could be huge. According to data analytics experts SciSports, Pedri has the potential to become the best player in the world, which only increases the risk for Barcelona in selling off a potentially priceless member of their squad.