Barca official talks £20m Pedro deal with Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal interested

BARCELONA will not allow back-up striker Pedro to leave the club, despite keen interest from Premier League clubs.

16:02, Mon, Mar 9, 2015 | UPDATED: 17:10, Mon, Mar 9, 2015

Pedro playing for Barcelona GETTY

Pedro has previously said he may leave Barcelona in the summer

Pedro has failed to break into the Barca first team as he competes with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez for forward places.

The 27-year-old has reportedly grown dissatisfied with his lack of starts and was close to leaving the Nou Camp club for £20million in January.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all reportedly admirers of the Spaniard, who also struggled for games when Alexis Sanchez was at Barca last season.

But despite his apparent reluctance to stay in Barcelona, Charles Rexach, a member of Barcelona’s technical committee, said he isn't ready to let his player go.

Pedro Player Profile

“He (Pedro) has prominence here. [He] is very important at Barca. I do not see Pedro away from Barca,” Rexach told Spanish TV channel Esport3.

Rexach's statement contradicts Pedro's own sentiments. Two months ago he was quoted by Spanish newspaper AS as saying: "I don't know [if I will stay]. For now, I'm happy at the club, but you never know what is going to happen tomorrow.

"I'm calm, with my mind set on the club until the end of the season and then we'll see what happens after that.

"Not having continuity makes things complicated. It's tough, but what I try to do is help out as much as possible."