BARCELONA, Sporting Alert – Manchester United target Pedro has not started for Barcelona against Sevilla in tonight’s Super Cup and it is being reported that the winger has asked to leave the club.
Pedro was expected to be in the starting lineup for this game, where he would have joined Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the attack, as Neymar is not playing because of the mumps.
However, the Spanish international was only named on the substitutes bench with Rafinha getting the starting nod over him.
It is now understood that the forward has asked to leave the Nou Camp, with Barcelona’s technical secretary Robert Fernandez confirming the player’s desire to play elsewhere.
Pedro is expected to be linking up with Manchester United, but the Spanish and European champions say the English Premier League club must meet the player’s €30m buyout clause.
“Pedro asked us for the transfer,” said Robert Fernandez, according to Sky Sports. “We are not going to accept less than €30m for him, it’s not negotiable.”
The Spanish international only recently signed a new contract extension with Barcelona, but according to reports in Spain, he feels he will not be able to break into the starting lineup, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez the overwhelming favourites to start every game once they are fit.
Pedro was somewhat comfortable with being used as a substitute during games, but after last season’s limited minutes, it is thought he’s ready to move on.
While Suarez – most of the time – has no problem being subbed off, fellow superstars Messi and Neymar constantly want to play the full 90 minutes, which makes life very difficult for manager Luis Enrique.
Enrique has voiced his desire to keep Pedro, but he knows the Catalans will not be able to accommodate the speedy winger’s demand for playing time.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he wants to add more pace to his current squad to challenge the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League title this season and he feels Pedro is just what is needed at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately though for Ashley Young, if the Barcelona man was to move to Manchester, his place would most likely be under threat.
