Pedro, the odd man out at Barcelona, ponders a future away from Camp Nou
Reports in Spain indicate that Barcelona forward Pedro could be on his way out of the Catalan capital with the Premier League looking the most likely destination.
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A product of Barça's famed La Masia academy and a vital component in Pep Guardiola's world-beating side of a few years ago, Pedro became the first player in history to score in six major club competitions during one season. A World Cup and Euro winner with Spain, he is a core member of Spanish football's golden generation, but since Luis Suarez's arrival at the Camp Nou, the 27-year-old can hardly get a game.
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With Barça boss Luis Enrique favoring the superstar attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez, Pedro has become the odd man out. Although he was a regular starter earlier in the season, he has found himself usurped by Suarez's marquee name and $92 million price tag. This week, Pedro gave an interview in which he further fueled speculation that his future may lay away from the club he joined as a 17-year-old.
"I don't know what will happen in the future," Pedro told Sport. "For now I am happy [at Barcelona], but you never know what is going to happen."
"I am calm and my mind is focused on the club until the end of the season."
Pedro's remarks have set off the interest of a number of top Premier League clubs. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly are all monitoring the situation. The player's current Barça contract runs until 2016, at which point he could leave on a free transfer. Although his latest remarks suggest the Canary Islander isn't opposed to trying to force a move this summer.
There have also been suggestions that Pedro could remain at the Camp Nou but only after being converted to right back. With Barcelona's upcoming transfer ban and Dani Alves's expected departure this summer, it's possible Enrique sees Pedro as a potential replacement for the Brazilian. Pedro has trained at left back for the national team and his natural pace would dispose him towards being a good wing back. Enrique deployed him in the position effectively against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last year.
"It's not my natural position but if they want to convert me I'll be happy to do it," Pedro told AS.
Pedro has scored five goals in 22 La Liga appearances for Barcelona this season, 11 of them as a starter and most recently in last weekend's 5-0 rout of Levante. A pacey winger with an eye for goal, he'd be a good signing for any number of top Premier League sides should he follow the increasingly well-worn path from La Liga to the Premiership. Although with a buyout clause reported to be in the region of $170 million, it's not entirely clear how many of the interested parties could actually afford him.
