Barcelona Pedri suffer new injury: Hansi Flick in midfield crisis
Barcelona have been hit with the kind of injury update they were desperate to avoid.
Midfield star Pedri has sustained a muscle problem and will spend several weeks recovering, according to reports from Spanish media.
The 22-year-old was pivotal to Hansi Flick’s system this season, often keeping the team balanced amid a string of other injuries.
However, after being pushed to his limits in the recent El Clásico against Real Madrid, Pedri suffered a new setback.
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As reported by Diario AS, scans revealed a muscle injury in his left hamstring.
Three weeks out
Medical staff have advised Pedri to rest for around three weeks.
That timeline rules him out of Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures against Elche, Club Brugge in the Champions League, and Celta Vigo.
The break comes just before the international window, which could allow the midfielder to return in time for clashes against Athletic Club and Chelsea, provided his recovery stays on track.
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Yet, as seen with other Barcelona players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, straightforward recoveries have been rare this season. Flick will be hoping this case proves the exception.
Fresh fitness fears
Sunday’s match will mark Pedri’s first absence through muscle injury since July 2024, when he was forced off during Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to Germany.
Since then, he had managed to stay fit, featuring in 49 consecutive matches and missing just one game last season due to illness.
This latest setback reopens questions about how the club manages his workload.
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Pedri endured two difficult years of recurring injuries before regaining full fitness earlier this season, and there are concerns that he may once again be overused.
A brief silver lining
While the news is worrying for Barcelona, there is a minor positive. Pedri was already due to miss the Elche match through suspension, meaning his total time out could be limited to two games.
The upcoming international break should also give him time to recover without missing further domestic action.
Still, Flick’s side can ill afford to lose their creative heartbeat for long.
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Pedri’s absence, even short-term, threatens to unsettle a midfield already stretched by injuries and inconsistency.
