Pedri’s Return Date to Participate with Barcelona

The Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” revealed that Barcelona midfielder Pedri is close to returning to the field after recovering from a recent muscle injury. The coaching staff is targeting his next appearance in the match against Levante, without rushing him back before he is fully ready.

According to what the newspaper explained, Pedri sustained an injury to the right hamstring during the match against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League on January 21st. This forced him to be absent for a full month, during which he missed participating in four matches against Oviedo, Copenhagen, Elche, and Albacete.

The Spanish newspaper confirmed that the player will not participate in Barcelona’s upcoming match against Mallorca, and there is no intention to risk him in the Montilivi game. This is due to the coaching staff, led by Hans Flick, adhering to a new policy for managing Pedri’s playing minutes, aimed at reducing injuries and ensuring his long-term continuity.

The report indicated that Pedri will be the next player to return after Raphinha, while Gavi continues his recovery positively. Additionally, the less demanding match schedule, along with Barcelona securing qualification among the top eight in the league stage of the Champions League, provides the coaching staff with greater leeway for calmness and not rushing.

In Pedri’s absence, the newspaper explained that Frenkie de Jong took on a larger role in the midfield and delivered outstanding performances, alongside Eric Garcia’s continued participation. Meanwhile, both Ferran and Dani Olmo showed clear synergy, with Olmo playing a deeper role, creating goals, and scoring in previous matches. Additionally, Marc Bernal gained important minutes that helped him achieve a degree of consistency.