Xavi wants 'another Pedri' at Barcelona

Stuart Telford

• 1 Mar 2023 16:40 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona's hands are tied somewhat ahead of next summer, but if Xavi can only bring in one player, he knows who he wants it to be…

… or rather what position they can play and how they interpret it: a creative No.8 who can impact a game in the same way that Pedri does, especially now the 2021 Golden Boy is injured.

Pedri pulled his hamstring in Barca's 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the first leg of their eventual aggregate 4-3 loss in the Europa League's knock-out round play-offs.

READ: Lewandowski triggers bonus payment as Barcelona's budget has €14m hole blown in it

His importance to the team has been amplified since, the Blaugrana winning just one of their subsequent four games - against Cadiz.

"For this reason, Xavi continues to be clear that he needs a classy midfielder," report Mundo Deportivo. "Put simple: he needs another Pedri.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 5, 2022

Barca's Plan A, B and C

"Bernardo Silva is the one they like most, hence they tried for him last summer. The 28-year-old Portuguese meets the profile Xavi is looking for, with his age, experience and characteristics, they consider him the ideal player."

The Spanish sports news outlet got on to list a number of other potential targets in Bernardo's Manchester City teammate Ilkay Gundogan and Villarreal veteran Dani Parejo.

READ: Barcelona's plight stopped them signing 'next Pedri'

A move for Gundogan or Parejo would appear to be more likely than for Bernardo, however, with the former out of contract at the Etihad this summer and the latter 34 in April.

It was recently revealed that Barca backed out of signing Alberto Moleiro - like Pedro a Las Palmas product - in December, even though they were quoted a knock-down price for the talented midfielder.

La Liga have told Barcelona to balance their books to the tune of €200m next season, and if €15m up front for Moleiro was too expensive for them, City's asking price for Silva will almost certainly be.