Barcelona concerned midfielder’s fitness issue could be more serious than initially thought | OneFootball

Barcelona completed their final training session this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s match against Villarreal at the Estadio de La Ceramica.

There was one major absence in the training today, as Pedri did not take part once again, with Hansi Flick confirming that the midfielder would not be available for the game through discomfort.

The discomfort appeared during the minutes he played in the Copa del Rey match against CD Guadalajara earlier this week.

Concerns at Barcelona

Within the club, the indication so far has been that Pedri’s issue is minor and that the Spanish international could be ready to return for the Catalan derby on 3 January, after the mid-season break.

However, according to SPORT’s Carlos Monfort, there is now concern at Barcelona that the fitness problem could be more serious than initially anticipated.

Pedri out of Villarreal clash. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

There is also a growing feeling that the 23-year-old superstar’s issue could be related to the hamstring injury he had sustained back in October, which sidelined him for a month.

As such, there is a degree of caution within the club, and they understand that the situation requires careful management and avoiding unnecessary risks.

Given the scenario, if there are doubts regarding his return for the derby against Espanyol, Hansi Flick will not push him at all, as he does not want to lose key players this season.

The players will break for a little over a week after tomorrow’s match, and Barcelona will hope that it is enough time for Pedri to fully recover from the problem.

For now, what is clear is that there will be no risks taken with the Spanish international, who is one of the most pivotal pieces in Flick’s tactical blueprint.