Barcelona Cannot Afford to Let Pedro Rodriguez Leave

Pedro Rodriguez has become somewhat marginalised at Barcelona over the last few months.

First Munir El Haddadi grabbed his shot at glory with both hands and left the Canary Islander warming the bench in the early part of the season, and now Luis Suarez's arrival threatens Pedro's ability to break back into the side.

Miguel Angel Morenatti/Associated Press

Luis Enrique has even preferred another 19-year-old, Sandro Ramirez, to a player that has been there and won it all.

It's debatable that Pedro is even out of form given that he hasn't really been given the chance to show his class since Lucho's appointment.

He still retains the confidence of Vicente del Bosque at international level and his faith was repaid handsomely with another stunning strike against Belarus on Saturday evening.

Some would argue that only a solitary strike at club level in over 500 minutes of action, per WhoScored.com, is enough of a reason to keep Pedro out of the side, but that conveniently glosses over the point that no player can attain his best when unsettled.

When all of the talk surrounds playing for other clubs, such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, it's fairly obvious to conclude that you're not part of the plans and are therefore in many ways unable to attain the highest levels.

However, Pedro Rodriguez remains a player of quality and at just 27 years of age, he arguably has the best years of his career ahead of him.

Should anyone of Lionel Messi, Neymar or Suarez pick up an injury, Pedro is the natural replacement. All of the front three positions do not present a problem for his skill set and a seamless integration is assured.

"

Pedro Rodriguez needed 91 seconds to assist Messi's 71th UCL Goal. pic.twitter.com/TzEQJ7p4aT

— CruVff14 (@CatalanBaller) November 6, 2014"

Not so with either El Haddadi or Ramirez, who both play centrally with aplomb but less so in the wider areas.

His accuracy in the pass shouldn't be overlooked, either. WhoScored detail it at 91.3 percent in La Liga, which is comfortably better than both youngsters.

Given that so much of Barca's play revolves around pass and move, surely only the best exponents need apply? 

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

The spend on both Neymar and Suarez dictates that both will play when fit, of course, and both represent a marketing man's dream alongside Messi.

Pedro can't possibly claim to be in the same ballpark in that respect but that doesn't mean he is not well-equipped enough to still hold his own. You simply don't become a bad player overnight.

Barca fans might want to loop back to last season and the Alexis Sanchez situation. Only after the Chilean departed for the Gunners was he truly appreciated by the Blaugrana faithful and exactly the same situation is developing again.

Spanish news website Fichajes (via Metro) note that the player has expressed a desire to join his old team-mate in London.

If Barcelona let him go, they'll live to regret it.