Speaking to BeIn Sports in a Spanish-language interview, Chelsea forward Pedro admits he wants to return to Barcelona.
The 28-year-old Spaniard left the Catalan giants for Chelsea late in last summer's transfer window, and never quite clicked at the Premier League club. Pedro, who last thrived as a false nine with Barca, became marginalised with the arrival of Luis Suarez and emergence of Neymar, and neither has he yet found a consistently productive role with Chelsea.
He made 29 league appearances, and scored seven goals with a pair of assists, in line with his subdued final season at Barca, where he accounted for just six goals and six assists in 35 La Liga matches.
He came on some near the end of the term, breaking a two-month goal drought against Newcastle United in mid-February with a double. He added three more (a double against Aston Villa and a goal against Bournemouth in April) to his tally by season’s end.
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Still, it is unlikely to have been enough to make him a featured part of incoming manager Antonio Conte's plans, and Pedro admitted in speaking with BeIn that he remains conflicted about his exit.
“I had 11 or 12 years in Barcelona, my family is there and also many friends.
“The fans loved me, I felt highly valued throughout the club and it is always hard to leave the club of your dreams.”
Of ultimately departing for Chelsea, he added: “In the end I had to make this decision because I saw that the possibilities were exhausted.”
Sounding such a note, Pedro spoke about the chances of a return.
“The years go by and the club has the best in the world, it is a very demanding club and a return is complicated, but neither do I rule it out.”
He said “hopefully” he could be reunited with Barcelona.
“I know it’s hard. I spoke with the president when we met at the (Copa del Rey) final and I spoke with all the people who want me there. It is complicated, but I’ve always said that I would have liked to retire at Barca.”
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