Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal says forward Pedro cannot be allowed to leave Camp Nou this summer.
The Spanish international has grown frustrated with a lack of first team action for the Catalan giants and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club. Chelsea are thought to be interested in securing his signature.
Abidal, who will be installed as the club’s sporting director should Joan Laporta win the upcoming presidential elections, nevertheless sees the 27-year-old as an important first team player.
“You can’t let players like Pedro leave. I know him as a player, but also as a person,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by AS.
“He is a player who has fitted in very well in the first team. When we won everything in 2009, he scored the most important goals.
“The whole team was working, but sometimes you win by fine margins. Pedro is a player who gives you these margins.
“Pedro is still an important part of this squad, although everyone knows he always wants to play and he got more minutes before than he does now.
“If Laporta wins, we will talk about his future from 19 July.”
