Pedro in danger of becoming a peripheral figure at Barcelona

Spaniard linked with moves to Liverpool and Valencia, but his focus remains Barca.

Barcelona's Pedro in action against Almeria at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on April 8, 2015. AFP

BARCELONA // So little was known of Pedro when he burst into Barcelona’s side in 2009 that one respected British website listed him as four different people. The son of a petrol station worker from Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz, Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma’s 23 goals in the epic 2009/10 season were shared between “Pedro”, “Pedrito”, “Rodriguez” and “Ledesma”.

Those goals were often came at key moments and when Pedro scored in the Fifa Club World Cup, in Abu Dhabi in December 2009, he became the first player to score in six club competitions in one year. Seven months later, he was a World Cup winner for Spain – just six weeks after making his international debut.

Pedro’s confidence was high and his personality shone through. When Pep Guardiola won his second title, his players took to the microphone and shouted “Forever Barca, Forever Catalunya”. Pedro stepped up and shouted “Forever Barca, Forever Tenerife!” Even the most sober Catalans laughed.

Pedro established himself as a Barca first-teamer with opinion divided on the best position for the two-footed winger. He seemed happy just to be playing and attributed much of his success to Barca’s youth academy.

“The club have a very clear idea of how we should play football,” he told this writer in 2011, the year he became a European champion again with his club, the year before he was a European champion again for his country.

“Receive, pass, move. Learn to do this very quickly and you have an advantage. We also have role models in front of us. I could see players like Xavi and Iniesta, they could see players like El Mister (Guardiola). Youth gets a chance here.”

The Canarian is now 27, with over 300 Barca games and 50 Spanish appearances to his credit. If his career ended tomorrow then it would have been a massive success, but there would be a lingering thought that he’s faded from view.

Pedro should be at his peak and if not in the Messi/Ronaldo absolute-world-class bracket, then in the one below occupied by his fellow Barça forwards Luis Suarez and Neymar. Neither of those were signed for big money to sit on a bench. Pedro’s problem is that the bigger names are getting more games and he’s in danger of becoming a peripheral figure.

He has played fewer games this term than in any since that breakthrough season. Having been involved in 39 Barca games with two months remaining could seem impressive, but he’s started in only half of those. In the league, he has started only 13 of 30.

An out-of-form Neymar meant Pedro started in Wednesday’s 4-0 win against Almeria which keeps Barca four points clear of Real Madrid with eight La Liga games to play. It was their 20th win in 21 matches, a hot streak even Guardiola’s great side did not match.

Messi, Suarez and Marc Barta put the Catalans ahead, as expected, against a team fighting relegation, while Pedro performed as expected of someone who has not been playing enough.

When he plays regularly, he plays well, when he does not, his passing is not as crisp, his reduced confidence means he doesn not dribble as often and he is less inclined to finish on his first touch. He scored 23 and 22 goals in his first two seasons as a first-team regular. He has 10 this term and initially looked rusty against Almeria, but he improved as the game went on.

Pedro is a trier and if his future is not to be at Barca he’d make an excellent – and versatile – player for almost any top team. He has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Valencia, but his focus remains Barca and his night finished happily.

In the final minute, he ran forward, controlled a Messi pass with his right foot and looked across to see Suarez. He could have gone for goal himself, but crossed with his left foot for Suarez to score Barça’s fourth. It was generous of him, but even though he didn’t score, he let out a cathartic, fist pumping celebration.

“The assist was my pleasure,” he said, with his usual modesty. “I saw Luis coming, he was completely alone, so it was normal I gave the pass. That’s my function, to help the team.

Of the speculation linking him with a move, he said: “There are always stories about me leaving but I’m tranquil. I’m in a difficult situation, but we’ll see later.”

Pedro needs to be playing to be selected for Spain in Euro 2016. He knows this and will think about this at the end of the season when he will undoubtedly again be linked with a possible move. But for now, he was happy to start the game for Barca and even happier to finish it by setting up a goal.

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