According to a recent report by The Telegraph, Spanish international winger Pedro is close to an exit from Stamford Bridge because of the lack of playing time that he has received since the start of this new campaign. The Blues have preferred the likes of Willian, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi to Pedro in the starting lineup, leaving the veteran winger unhappy with the situation.
It has been suggested that the Spaniard only has six months left on his current contract with the Blues and that Chelsea are eager to cash in on him in the winter, rather than let him walk away for free in the summer. Both Pedro and French star Olivier Giroud have become liabilities to the Blues squad, as they don’t seem to match the philosophy surrounding the football at the moment.
How Did Pedro Make A Name For Himself?
Born in the Spanish city of Tenerife, the Spanish speedster was touted to become a huge star right from a young age. Aged just 16, he was scouted and signed by the Barcelona academy from local club San Isidro, in the summer of 2004. It took him two years of hard work to break into the Catalan side’s reserve setup, and a further year or so to penetrate the first-team. He went on to score 99 goals for the club in over 300 appearances.
After showing himself off as a future superstar, the opportunities at Barcelona came thick and fast for the Spaniard. In his first full season at Barcelona, the Catalan club went on to win every tournament they participated in, including the coveted UEFA Champions League final – a match in which he replaced Andres Iniesta for the final knockings. He’s even had the honour of scoring Barcelona’s opener in the win against Manchester United in the 2010/11 Champions League final.
What Has Pedro Achieved At Chelsea So Far?
Having signed for the Blues in 2015, the Spaniard was quite to make his mark – scoring the Blues opener on his debut against West Bromwich Albion. In his second season at the Bridge, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, the Spaniard was nothing short of a revelation. Although the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa had a massive part to play in it too, that goal he had scored against Everton, to effectively clinch Conte the title in his first year in charge, is the one that won’t be forgotten very soon.
He even scored a vital goal in the Blues Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku last season. His contributions began to dwindle under Maurizio Sarri, and with Frank Lampard now in charge, his glory days in a Chelsea shirt look like they’re drawing to a close. Irrespective of that, there’s no denying that he’s been an exceptional servant of the Blues, and the fans at Stamford Bridge will always have a special place for him in their hearts.
Will Chelsea Be Making A Mistake By Selling Pedro?
The signs of his decline had been beginning to become apparent, and it seems like Frank Lampard has picked the perfect time to ease him out of the club. His contributions to the team will not be forgotten, but with a new era seemingly on the horizon at Stamford Bridge, the show must go on. Pedro has scored just once this season, with the goal coming in the Carabao Cup as well. With a stacked squad at his disposal, selling Pedro is one thing that Frank Lampard can do with confidence in January.
