Pedro Rodriguez faces a dilemma
this summer. Stay at brilliant
Barcelona, where he's likely to be
more bit-part than key man, or
leave the Catalans in pursuit of
more regular football.
The Spain international has
repotedly been attracting interest
from the Premier League, with
Manchester United, Chelsea and
Liverpool all said to be ready to
pounce, while Luis Enrique has
made no secret of his desire for
the 27-year-old to stay at Camp
Nou.
Goal takes a look at what the
future could hold for Pedro, as
well as how he got on in Barca's
first friendly of the 2015-16
campaign...
PERFORMANCE AGAINST LA
GALAXY
With Lionel Messi and Neymar
excused from International
Champions Cup duty, Barca boss
Luis Enrique opted to start with
Pedro for the friendly clash with
LA Galaxy, positioning the
Spaniard on the left-hand-side of
a three-pronged attack.
And the 27-year-old winger flew
out of the blocks, seemingly
desperate to prove a point. Full of
running and committing
opposition defenders whenever
he had the ball, Pedro shone
brightest in the first half as Barca
searched for the opening goal.
Suarez eventually delivered the
strike that put the Catalans in
front, on the stroke of half-time,
but there was no doubt the
Champions League winners
looked most dangerous when
Pedro had the ball at his feet.
Comfortable going on the
outside and looking to cross,
where one delivery landed
disappointingly on the roof of
the net, or cutting inside on his
right foot, Pedro's direct running
was unsettling opposition
defenders and creating space for
his team-mates.
The Spain international
threatened to burst through on a
couple of occasions and
although he was unable to have
any meaningful efforts at goal, it
was a bright cameo on a night
where he was clearly keen to
show exactly what he's about.
THE STATS
WHAT THE FUTURE COULD HOLD?
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.
There is probably not a better
front three in world football at
the moment and it is the
presence of the aforementioned
trio at Camp Nou that is
undoubtedly seeing Pedro assess
his options.
While the Spain international will
get his fair share of minutes as a
rotation player for the Catalans,
there is surely no conceivable
scenario that will see the 27-
year-old start regularly in place of
Barca's scintillating trio - and
that, for someone so talented,
would be a waste.
The fact is, Pedro would
command a place in almost any
other top side in Europe, and, if
he is thinking seriously about
departing La Liga, the Premier
League would certainly be a
perfect stage for him to flourish.
And there will be no shortage of
takers. Chelsea, who seemingly
decided against going toe-to-toe
with Manchester City for £49
million Raheem Sterling, would
likely be one option although the
Premier League champions are
already well stocked on the
flanks.
Eden Hazard is, of course, an
irreplaceable in Jose Mourinho's
starting XI although Pedro would
provide competition for Willian
on the other wing, but the
presence of Juan Cuadrado, who
is likely to get more of a chance
to impress in 2015-16, might
dissuade the Spaniard from
Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United are another
to have been heavily linked with
a move for Pedro. Louis van Gaal
is steadily building a side capable
of pushing for the Premier
League title and the tricky winger
would slot in seamlessly to
improve an already impressive-
looking line-up.
A United move for the 27-year-
old could, though, depend
entirely on Angel Di Maria's
future, with the Argentine having
emerged as a top target for PSG.
Liverpool, too, would be an
interested party but their lack of
Champions League football
would likely deter the Spanish
winger.
And, of course, there is still Barca.
Luis Suarez has called for his
team-mate to reject the Premier
League and stay at Camp Nou .
Surely, though, a player of
Pedro's immense ability should
be aiming higher than being the
Uruguayan's reserve.