Barcelona manager Hansi Dieter Flick has confirmed that Spanish midfield gem Pedri Gonzalez will not be available for the Blaugrana’s La Liga trip to face high-flying Villarreal at La Ceramica.
Pedri’s ongoing battle with fitness has once again come to the fore. After featuring in almost every possible fixture during his breakout season at Barcelona, the young Spaniard spent the next three years dealing with the physical consequences of that relentless workload.
Following Flick’s arrival last season, Pedri missed just three matches and appeared to have turned a corner. However, the midfielder’s durability has again been tested, with Sunday’s meeting against Villarreal set to be the seventh game he will miss this campaign.
The German boss confirmed ahead of the clash that Pedri will not be available, while also providing an outline of the 23-year-old’s expected recovery timeline.
“He won’t be available,” Flick told assembled media ahead of Sunday’s trip to Villarreal, who started the weekend third in the La Liga table. “I’m not happy about it. He’s injured.”
However, the young midfield maestro is not expected to be out for long. Flick predicted that he’ll be ready for Barcelona’s first game of the new year which is due on January 3.
“I think he’ll be ready for Espanyol,” Flick revealed. “He has issues with his hamstrings, but the risk is very high. He could play [against Villarreal], but the risk is high.
“We have to take care of him and make sure he receives treatment. We can’t take risks. That’s the best course of action right now.
“We need him for the upcoming matches against Espanyol and the Spanish Super Cup. We have to adapt because we have a lot of quality in the squad.”
While Flick is keen to prioritize Pedri’s long-term fitness, his absence will undoubtedly be felt this weekend. Barcelona face a Villarreal side enjoying an impressive domestic campaign, having collected 35 points from a possible 45.
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