Saturday 16 May 2015 10:22, UK
Barcelona's international sporting director says Pedro will not be leaving the club in the summer.
The Spain international has had a restricted first-team role this season due to the outstanding exploits of the club’s first-choice attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter Milan have been tipped to offer him a route of the Camp Nou at the end of this season, but Barca’s international sporting director Ariedo Braida has emphasised the winger’s importance and believes he will stay on in Catalonia.
When asked about Pedro, he told FcInterNews.it: "He’ll carry on as a Barcelona player, he’s incredibly important for us and he won’t leave. He has a contract to continue at the Camp Nou and will do, even more so given the FIFA sanction. I don’t think we’ll change our minds in January, he’s an important player."
Braida also expressed his interest in Inter Milan’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, while he said that the club’s transfer ban, which is in place until January, does not prevent them from agreeing deals this summer.
He added: "At the moment I can’t say anything, there’s nothing definite at the moment, but I can’t deny that he’s (Kovacic) a player with the qualities we like.
"The rule is clear, Barcelona can’t sign in the summer transfer window, but that doesn’t stop us seeking verbal agreements looking to January."
