FC Barcelona Make New Signing For El Clasico Meeting With Real Madrid

FC Barcelona have made a new signing for Sunday’s installment of El Clasico against Real Madrid in La Liga.

The Blaugrana currently lead the Spanish top flight by nine points and can theoretically wrap up their first title win in four years through beating their bitter rivals at Camp Nou on Sunday.

By SPORT, though, it has been suggested that Barca have a “new signing” for the fixture in midfielder Pedri.

The number ‘8’ was injured against Manchester United in the Europa League in mid-February, hobbling off before half time during the playoff first leg which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

This week, however, Pedri has returned to training and is tipped to start in El Clasico. This will allow Xavi Hernandez to revert back to his four-man midfield system crucial to a 3-1 win over Los Blancos in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh at the turn of 2023.

Pedri is said to be making good progress, though Xavi and his staff do not want to make rash decisions and rush the 20-year-old back if he runs the risk of being crocked again.

Barca have more important fixtures ahead, such as a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg clash against Madrid on April 5. Yet they have clearly struggled without Pedri’s attacking midfield influence while going on the back foot in many a match to try and defend slender leads.

Pedri has been pivotal in Barca’s return to the top of Spanish domestic football, adding an extra 10 points to their title push with his game-winning goals in 1-0 and 2-1 victories. Without him around, the Blaugrana have lost two games to Almeira in La Liga and Manchester United on the continent but had previously not been defeated since Madrid beat them 3-1 in October.

Because of this, it can be suggested that boasting Pedri in midfield at the weekend will effectively be like making a new signing. The Spain international will do selective training on Friday and Saturday, before undergoing a medical test to see if he is match fit.

If this brings positive results, Xavi is certain to pick Pedri for his first XI and it is expected that he will return to top form like a duck to water as seen in previous comebacks when the coach has been able to trust in him from the offset despite a lengthy layoff.