FC Barcelona Confirm Pedri Injury Amid Absence Timeframe Reports, In Major Blow To Xavi

FC Barcelona have confirmed an injury to star midfielder Pedri, which should keep him out of action for at least three weeks.

The Spain international hobbled off before half time in a thrilling 2-2 Europa League playoff first leg draw against Manchester United on Thursday, and was unable to make an impact in the 40 minutes he played.

Asked about the knock post-match, his coach Xavi Hernandez said: “”He noticed discomfort in the quadriceps. We’ll see how he is tomorrow and what the tests say.”

On Friday morning, Barca released a short social media statement which revealed that “the tests carried out this morning have confirmed that the first team player Pedri has suffered an injury to the rectus femoris of the right thigh.”

“He is unavailable and his evolution will determine his availability,” the club added.

On their English Twitter account, Barca said that Pedri “has injured his right hamstring”.

No solid date has been given as to when Pedri could be available again, but SPORT claims that the number ‘8’ will be out of action for at least three weeks while COPE has it at up to four.

This of course means he will miss the return leg against United at Old Trafford on February 23, and with Sergio Busquets also crocked and Gavi suspended, Barca’s midfield is severly depleted heading into one of their biggest games of the season.

Until Raphinha equalized in the second half, Barca had been swamped in the center of the park as Frenkie de Jong struggled to deal with the PremierPINC
League team’s pressing and intensity.

Pedri’s playmaking will be missed not only on the continent, but also in La Liga. In tight 1-0 and 2-1 wins, five of his six goals have contributed to an extra 10 points as Barca currently lead bitter rivals Real Madrid at the summit by eight.

Providing his recovery runs on schedule, three weeks out for Pedri probably means a March 12 return for an away trip to Athletic Club in Bilbao.

If it is four weeks, he could, like Ousmane Dembele, not feature again until the March 19 home instalment of El Clasico that could decide the title race and whether Xavi delivers Barca their first domestic top flight crown in four years.