MAN UTD & BARCELONA AGREE PEDRO DEAL

A £22.3 million (€32m) fee has been agreed
between the two clubs, but the Catalans are
keen for the forward to stay with them until
after the Uefa Super Cup next Tuesday

Manchester United and Barcelona have reached
agreement over the transfer of Pedro, but the
Champions League holders are keen to retain
the player until after next week's Uefa Super
Cup.
The two sides have settled on a transfer fee of
£18.1 million (€26m) initially, with a potential
further £4.2m (€6m) to be paid in variable
bonuses.
But the European champions face Europa
League winners Sevilla in the traditional season
curtain-raiser in Tbilisi on Tuesday, and want to
be able to call upon Pedro to play a part.
Lionel Messi and Neymar have only recently
returned from an extended break following
their Copa America commitments, and neither
is likely to play a full 90 minutes in the Super
Cup clash.
As a result Pedro is likely to play a significant
role before finalising a move to Old Trafford,
meaning United will begin the Premier League
season against Tottenham on Saturday without
the 28-year-old in the squad.
The Spain international signed a new four-year
deal in June, with the club announcing publicly
that his €150m release clause remained in
effect. However, a gentlemen’s agreement was
made allowing the player to leave for a lower
fee should the buying club suit both parties.
While Pedro has yet to agree personal terms
with United, he is keen on a switch which would
allow him greater playing time than he has
experienced since Luis Suarez’s arrival at the
Camp Nou last summer.
United boss Louis van Gaal admitted recently
that the 28-year-old is just the type of player
his team has been lacking.
"Barcelona have the speed of Neymar and
Messi - and they have Pedro behind them. We
have to compete with that," he told The Sun .
"We can win the title if we can buy players with
speed and creativity. We have to improve our
selection in that way."
Pedro has scored 98 goals in 318 appearances
for Barcelona, and head coach Luis Enrique
insisted recently that he wanted the forward
to remain with the club.
"Pedro is a high-level player and as a coach I
want him to stay here, but is his decision," he
said.