Barcelona midfielder Pedro will not be in time to face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal after the international break, a source told ESPN.
Pedri, 20, hasn’t played since picking up a hamstring against Manchester United in the Europa League on February 16, but there was hope that he would play against Madrid in La Liga last weekend.
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He returned to group training on Thursday but did not feel well in Friday’s session and Barça decided not to force the issue.
There is no definitive timetable on how much longer he will be out, but with Barca 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga following Sunday’s 2-1 win over Madrid, there is no need to rush his return.
A source told ESPN it could be “three or four weeks” before he returns, ruling him out of the Cup. classic on April 5. Barça goes into that match at the Camp Nou with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Pedri’s goal is to be back before the end of the season and to be able to celebrate a possible first LaLiga title for Barça since 2019, and the first as a player, on the pitch with his teammates.
The Spanish international is also eyeing the Copa del Rey final in May, if Barça can beat Madrid in the semi-final, and the UEFA Nations League Final Four in June, with Luis de la Fuente’s side facing to Italy in the semifinal.
The Barça also has doubts on the physical form Ousmane Dembele, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong before april classic.
Dembele hasn’t played since picking up a thigh injury at the end of January, but is expected to return sometime early next month.
Araujo and De Jong finished Sunday’s victory over Madrid with minor problems that forced them to abandon upcoming matches with Uruguay and the Netherlands, respectively.
However, both hope to be ready to face Elche on April 1 after the international break, with Madrid at the Camp Nou four days later for the third game. classic in a month.
Barca have won the previous two and have now won three in a row in all competitions, including their Super Cup victory in Saudi Arabia in January, for the first time since 2011-12.
