Barcelona Transfer News: Blaugrana Shouldn't Sanction Pedro Sale in January

With the enticing attacking triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez hogging the Barcelona spotlight since they finally took to the field together at the Santiago Bernabeu, it’d understandable if some of the club's other offensive talents were feeling a little bit miffed.

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And for one of the longstanding members of this Blaugrana set-up, enough finally seems to be enough, with reports suggesting Pedro has handed in a transfer request to the Nou Camp higher-ups.

According to reports on the continent (h/t Charles Perrin of the Express), the effervescent winger is desperate to force through a January move, with Arsenal keen on bringing him to the Premier League. But at this juncture, Barcelona simply cannot afford to let the World Cup winner walk away in the mid-season window.

As talented as the aforementioned threesome are, they are human, and consequentially, they will not play every minute of every game throughout the season—especially for a club of Barcelona’s stature.

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Luis Enrique will be expected to plot a trophy charge on a trio of fronts this season, and to do so, he’ll have to utilise his squad astutely. Admittedly, there are a lot of wonderful young players making a case to get into the Barcelona first team, but none with the quality and experience of Pedro, who has been a mainstay of this squad for years and years.

Here are some of his finest moments in the Blaugrana strip since his ascension from the La Masia academy into the first team:

For all the talents of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, Pedro is a forward who brings something different to the table. The Spanish international is uncompromisingly direct in his playing style, giving the side great width and, with his scintillating pace, a real threat in behind. 

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For a team of the stylistic make-up of Barcelona, who often find themselves up against compact and cohesive opponents, stretching the game vertically and laterally is critical to their success. And whether he does so from the start or from the bench, with that it mind, it’s clear that Pedro is a man who still has a critical role to play this season.

It’s a role that looks likely to be a little less immersive than he’s used to, though, and in the summer the player admitted he was unsure what the future holds, per Perrin’s piece:

"

I don't know what's going to happen yet, I don't know anything. I'm calm though, I'm at the World Cup and that's all that matters right now. 

When a decision has to be made, I'll speak with the club and we'll see what happens.

"

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His supposed frustration is admittedly understandable. Pedro is a player who's been magnificent for Barcelona during a prosperous spell in the club’s history, after all. In many ways, he embodies all that is wonderful about this football club and the fine manner in which they nurture young footballers. 

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Unfortunately for him, though, his stock has dropped a little in recent years, and with world stars like Neymar and Suarez rocking up at the Camp Nou, his shunning to the periphery of the first team has been expedited. Indeed, Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez was unashamed, if not a little harsh, in his criticism of the player following Barca's recent 3-1 loss to Real Madrid: 

He’ll want to play first-team football on a regular basis, and there’s absolutely no shame in that. But from a footballing and business perspective, Barcelona cannot afford to let Pedro go—especially with the transfer embargo imposed on the club preventing them from bringing any players to the Camp Nou during 2015.

Pedro still has something to offer, and until the prodigious youngsters snapping at his heels accrue a little more experience, don’t expect Barcelona to sanction a sale anytime soon.