SUMMARY
- FC Barcelona superstar Pedri may exit the club in the summer transfer window.
- Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal have emerged as possible destinations for the Spaniard.
Pedri was considered to be one of Barca’s next big things. The Spanish midfielder arrived from Las Palmas in 2020 and quickly became an integral player for the club.
The soccer world was in awe of the 21-year-old’s dribbling and passing abilities, with him being compared to some of Barca’s biggest midfield legends. His great performances for FC Barcelona also helped Pedri to earn his maiden national call-up at the age of just 18.
[SKILLS 🔥]
🤯 @Pedri 🙌 pic.twitter.com/97I8vOabo5— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 1, 2020
However, Pedri’s career path has been the complete opposite of what was expected by the soccer fans. Constant injuries have derailed his career and Barcelona’s financial worries have even started rumors of the Spaniard being sold. However, it looks like Pedri will be opting for a different league if he were to leave FC Barcelona, as Arsenal and Liverpool are two interested parties in the Spaniard.
How will Pedri fit in at Liverpool and Arsenal?
Pedri has a contract with FC Barcelona that runs until the summer of 2026. The Spanish club has long wanted to extend the Spaniard’s contract but has failed to do so, due to their financial constraints. And it looks like Barca’s years of financial mismanagement might result in them losing out on one of their best players.
Reportedly, Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring the situation of Pedri at FC Barcelona, with the latter leading the race to sign the Spaniard. This comes after, Pedri was removed from the list of Barca’s untouchable players for the summer transfer window of 2024. It is also likely that Pedri won’t be the only player leaving the club in the summer as the interest in players like Ronald Araujo and Frenkie De Jong is growing
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Liverpool would be necessitating a midfielder soon, as it looks to end its association with Ryan Gravenberch and Thiago Alcantara. ‘The Reds’ have found extra motivation to sign Pedri as club President Joan Laporta has lowered his valuation from $86 million to $64 million. FC Barcelona in turn is willing to sign Thiago on a free transfer after his contract expires with FC Barcelona.
Arne Slot’s managerial appointment at Liverpool might mean a career rejuvenation for the Spaniard. The Dutchman is a very attacking-minded manager and this might allow Liverpool to persuade Pedri.
However, Liverpool faces tough competition for Pedri from fellow PL club Arsenal who also have stepped up their pursuit. Moreover, Arsenal’s possession-heavy and fluid way of playing soccer just like FC Barcelona might be more appealing for the Spaniard.
Why does it make sense for FC Barcelona to sell Pedri?
Given the fact that FC Barcelona has removed Pedri from the untouchables’ list, it looks likely that the club would agree to negotiate for the Spaniard. However, this is the exact opposite of what the 21-year-old could have achieved at FC Barcelona. He was expected to lead the club into a new era but now is pretty close to leaving the club without achieving any of his objectives.
One of the prime reasons that Pedri didn’t work out at FC Barcelona is because of his poor fitness. The 21-year-old has become a liability with his injury record, as he is bound to miss multiple games in a season. His hamstring has been a major Achilles heel for Pedri, which has hampered the consistency of his performances. Even in the 23/24 season, Pedri has been out injured for over 100 days.
Pedri is emotional on the bench after picking up another injury 💔 pic.twitter.com/uAnOEo766A
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 3, 2024
The other reason is FC Barcelona’s well-known financial ordeals. Joan Laporta and co. have faced these problems since the COVID-19 pandemic and are yet to recover from them. Amidst all this, La Liga’s slashing of the club’s wage bill, and the reconstruction of the Camp Nou have doubled the trouble for FC Barcelona. Under such circumstances, it is only reasonable for the Spanish club to raise some money by selling Pedri.