Chelsea winger Pedro has been speaking to BeIN Sports and admitted that he’d like to return to Barcelona after what has been an indifferent season at Stamford Bridge.
The 28-year-old was a product of the Barcelona academy and enjoyed over a decade at the Nou Camp. He found he wasn’t always starting for the Catalan giants, however, and so a move to Chelsea last summer seemed an opportunity to revitalise his career.
Unfortunately things didn’t work out as planned for the Spaniard and life at Stamford Bridge was tougher than he expected. Nine goals from forty-eight appearances in all competitions is a poor return for a player of Pedro’s ability and the player found himself a victim of difficult circumstances in West London. José Mourinho, who signed him, was sacked in December after leading the club to its worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1960s.
He told BeIN Sports, “Hopefully [I can return to Barcelona] but I know it’s hard. I have already spoken about it with the President when…[Barcelona] were in the final and spoke to all the people who want me there. It’s complicated, but I’ve always said that I would like to retire at Barcelona”.
Despite having spoken to the club’s President and admitting his desire to return to Spain, Pedro admits things might not be that simple. He continued, “I know it’s difficult because the years go by and the club has the best players in the world, it is a very demanding club and to return is complicated. But I do not rule it out either. I had been 11 or 12 years in Barcelona, my family is from there and also many friends. The fans loved me, I felt very valued around the club, and it’s always hard to leave the club of your dreams”.
It is not clear whether the Spanish international has spoken to the incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte about his future at Stamford Bridge. The Italian is known to favour a more defensive style of football and Pedro may feel that there is no place for him under the former Juventus manager and the current coach of the Italian national side.