Barcelona midfield star not ruled out for opening game vs Valencia

With just a couple of weeks remaining before the new season kicks off, Barcelona are hoping for the speedy recovery of its injured players.

Pedri’s fitness, in particular, has been in focus as the Spanish midfielder looks to get back on the pitch as soon as possible after picking up an injury during the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

Update on Pedri’s fitness

A recent report from Mundo Deportivo suggests Pedri is diligently working on his recovery plan, aiming to be fit for the league debut against Valencia on August 17 at Mestalla.

The Barça midfielder has been training individually in Tenerife, focusing on recuperating from the internal lateral sprain in his left knee, which he sustained during the quarter-finals against Germany.

Pedri’s absence has been felt during the pre-season, and initial forecasts suggested a recovery period of around a month.

All eyes on Pedri’s recovery (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

While the club have not provided a specific timeline for his return, optimism remains high that he will be ready for Hansi Flick’s first LaLiga match in charge of Barcelona.

The Blaugrana’s midfield options have been notably depleted. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are both sidelined with injuries.

Fermín is currently competing in the Olympic Games, and Oriol Romeu is on the verge of a move to Girona. This leaves Flick with limited choices in midfield for the league opener.

Pedri’s potential return would be a significant boost for the squad. His presence and creative influence in the midfield are crucial, especially given the current absences.

However, it remains to be seen whether Pedri will have regained the necessary match fitness to feature prominently against Valencia after a month without competitive action.