Despite scoring a horrendous own goal in the round of 16 clash with Croatia, Spain starlet Pedri is enjoying a stellar Euro 2020 campaign, playing a pivotal role in their qualification from the group stage to the quarter-finals.
The 18-year-old Barcelona sensation has started all four games for La Furia Roja, becoming the youngest Spaniard to play for the national team in the European Championship with his appearance against Sweden before becoming the all-time youngest player to feature in the knockout stage thanks to the 5-3 victory over Croatia.
The Las Palmas graduate is all but destined to start in the upcoming quarter-final showdown with Switzerland and while this will exponentially help the growth of his career, it poses a huge worry for the Blaugrana in terms of his fitness. The reason for this is that the teenager has also been called up to Spain's squad for the Summer Olympics, which kicks off just under two weeks after the Euro 2020 final.
¡¡VAMOS A POR EL ORO!!
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) June 29, 2021
Estos son los internacionales que representarán a España en #Tokyo2020.
Los jugadores convocados por Luis de la Fuente comenzarán la concentración este miércoles 30 de junio.
https://t.co/Y2ll0GhvdE#SomosEspaña pic.twitter.com/0iGJs1IBOm
This means that if Luis Enrique's side were to go all the way and make the final at the Wembley Stadium, Pedri would enjoy only 11 days of rest before embarking on his nation's Tokyo 2020 campaign. This is a huge concern for the Catalan giants as they look to have their influential midfielder fit and recharged in time for the 2021/22 La Liga season.
As a result, Jordi Marti of Cadena SER claims Barcelona have begun talks with the Spanish Football Federation in order to get Pedri excused from the upcoming Olympic Games. Whether the Catalan giants will be successful remains uncertain as the teenage midfielder isn't the only Spaniard to receive a double call-up, with Dani Olmo, Unai Simon, Eric Garcia, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pau Torres all set to report for international duty at Tokyo 2020 as well.
El Barça va a hablar con la Federación Española de Futbol para llegar a un acuerdo y que Pedri NO VAYA A LOS JJOO y sea desconvocado
— Jordi Martí SER (@jordimartiras) June 29, 2021
Al Barça le preocupa que el jugador se incorpore fundido por encadenar Eurocopa y Juegos Olímpicos
Màs en @QueThiJugues @SERDeportivos
However, given that Pedri struggled in the latter stages of the 2020/21 season due to burnout, it's understandable that Koeman's side are prioritizing his situation over the newly-signed Eric Garcia.
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