As it was expected, SPORT has confirmed that Pedri has been officially ruled out of the UEFA Champions League clash against Chelsea.
The outlet mentions that the midfielder did not take part in Monday’s training session before the squad departed for London, signalling clearly that he is still not ready to return following his latest muscle injury.
It must be noted that Pedri remains in the final phase of his recovery programme, but Hansi Flick is refusing to take any risks.
The coaching staff has maintained from the beginning that the midfielder will only feature once he is completely recovered, and that approach has not changed.
The player himself is aligned with that plan, preferring to respect the medical schedule rather than accelerate his comeback and risk another setback.
Despite the disappointment of missing such an important European night, the star midfielder is focused solely on regaining full fitness.
Pedri will travel to London
Pedri, Barcelona player
Pedri will travel to London but will not play against Chelsea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Even so, the door remains open for Pedri to travel with the squad. Barcelona believe his presence in London could be positive for team morale, especially with Tuesday marking his 23rd birthday.
However, even if he does make the trip, he would do so without receiving medical clearance, meaning he would not be available for selection.
While Pedri’s absence is a heavy blow, the mood around the squad has been lifted by the return of Marcus Rashford and Frenkie de Jong.
While the former has recovered from flu, the latter is also back in contention, having completed his suspension in La Liga.
There is more good news, as Alejandro Balde has also been declared available after being substituted at half-time against Athletic Bilbao.