Chelsea player Pedro has expressed his desire to return to the Camp Nou, but he admits that it would be “close to be impossible” for Barcelona to sign him back.
Only a year after his Barcelona departure, Pedro expressed his desire to return after a somewhat tricky first season in the Premier League at Chelsea. Sky Sports had suggested that the Spaniard was holding talks with his former employers to bring him back to to the club. But, by the looks of things, Pedro has come to terms with reality and has accepted that a move back to the Camp Nou would be ‘close to impossible.’
According to ESPN, Pedro said, “If you ask me if I’d go back, the answer is clear because they’re a great club with great players and fans who appreciate me. I’ve always said that I’d like to retire at Barca, but I know it’s very difficult, almost impossible.”
“Admittedly it seemed like I was going back this summer, but I have a contract with Chelsea, I’ve only been there for a year and it’d be very difficult for [a return] to happen,” he added.
The 28-year-old made the switch from the Catalan Giants at the start of the 2015/16 for a fee reported to be £20 million (via Transfermarkt), but has failed to live up to his expectations. He was seen as a vital addition to the squad that were on the back of a Premier League triumph.
Within a couple of months into the new season, all the confidence came crashing down as the defending champions found themselves at the wrong end of the table. The decision to part ways with Mourinho proved to be effective, but Pedro could not find the form that was expected from him. Despite making 45 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, the Spanish attacker had only 9 goals and 2 assists to show..
Could Antonio Conte’s influence help Pedro regain his lost touch?
In the graphic given above, it is highlighted how dismal the 2015/16 campaign has been for Pedro. He had his worst season when it came to goals, assists and shot accuracy. The Spaniard hit his pinnacle in the 2013/14 season for Barcelona, but since then it has been pretty much downhill for him.
However, the stats suggest the potential the 28-year-old possesses. If used well, Pedro could be one of the most threatening attackers in the world. He is known to be extremely pacey and has an immaculate crossing ability. Conte could do with a player of Pedro’s calibre. Under the Italian, the former Barcelona player could flourish and reinvent his spiraling football career. He could be used as a wing-forward in a 3-4-3, or as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 system. While Antonio Conte prefers using the latter, given the nature of the Premier League and the bunch of players he has at his disposal, a 3-4-3 system could suit him as well as the players at Chelsea.
