Pedri’s meteoric rise with Barcelona was a blessing for the club last season. It earned him a call-up for Spain in the Euro 2020. That rise, however, has now become a concern.
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The 18-year-old, having already played a full league season and featured in every game of the Euros, has now also been included in the Spanish squad set to compete in the Olympics.
Normally, the inclusion would be a good thing. It’s anything but as far as the Catalan side are concerned.
Barcelona concerned over the number of minutes the player has played
They are worried that Pedri has played too much football this season and would have preferred he not been included.
When it was announced he would be among those going to the Olympics, the club’s plan was to reach some sort of agreement with the Spanish Football Federation to not have Pedri go.
Barcelona want to prevent Pedri from going to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. The club will talk to the Spanish Football Federation to reach an agreement. [cadena ser] pic.twitter.com/sGBgqPNPG8
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 29, 2021
According to Sport, the federation has denied Barcelona’s request and they must let Pedri go.
There is a Spanish law that requires those clubs to release players for the Olympics, according to Marca. It is why teams in other leagues, like Manchester City, were able to deny their players, Rodri and Ferran Torres, from also going.
Pedri has played a total of 60 matches for both club and country — 52 with Barca and eight with Spain. He could potentially play three more if Spain manages to make it all the way to the final. That’s a lot of games for someone his age.
The club now finds itself with little to no recourse in this matter. What they may have not taken into account is the player’s wishes. He could very well want to go to the Olympics. The club can’t stop him nor would they want to risk the relationship in doing so.
Manager Ronald Koeman is going to have to carefully monitor his minutes at the start of next season.
Joining Pedri in the Barca contingent heading to the Olympics are defenders Óscar Mingueza and Eric García.