Pedri injury fears eased as Barcelona reveal special pre-season plan

Barcelona have moved to calm speculation surrounding Pedri after confirming that the midfielder is following an individual preparation programme rather than being sidelined by a new injury.

Pedri was absent from Barcelona’s group training despite returning to the club’s training base last Wednesday alongside the rest of the Spain internationals. His continued absence from collective sessions prompted questions about his fitness and led to reports suggesting he may have suffered another injury.

Those reports raised concerns that the 22-year-old could miss the beginning of Barcelona’s new season. However, the club addressed the situation through its official account on X, publishing a photograph of Pedri and providing an explanation for his modified schedule.

“Pedri is working on a special preparation programme during the first days of pre-season,” Barcelona said.

The club’s statement indicates that Pedri’s current work is part of a planned approach to his preparation, rather than confirmation of a fresh injury. Barcelona did not announce that the Spain international had been ruled out of any fixture.

The clarification comes as Hansi Flick’s side prepares for its first match of the new campaign. Barcelona will begin the season next Wednesday against Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Spotify Camp Nou.

Pedri’s absence from group work had attracted attention because he had already returned to Barcelona with the other Spanish internationals. His decision to train separately, after rejoining the squad, prompted speculation about whether he had encountered another fitness problem during the early stages of pre-season.

Barcelona’s public response was accompanied by an image of the midfielder and focused on the nature of his training programme. The club described the work as a “special preparation programme” for the opening days of pre-season, without stating that he was injured or giving a timetable for his return to full team training.

The midfielder’s availability will therefore remain a subject of interest before Barcelona’s meeting with Al Ahly. The Joan Gamper Trophy fixture at Spotify Camp Nou is the first match listed for Barcelona at the start of the new season, while Pedri is currently following a separate plan as preparations continue.

For now, Barcelona’s message is that Pedri is working on an individual programme. The statement was issued in response to the speculation surrounding his absence from group training and provides the club’s official explanation for why he has not yet joined his team-mates in collective sessions.