Chelsea star Pedro Rodriguez has found playing time hard to get this season as the Spaniard is in the final year of his Chelsea contract.
Pedro has been a good player for Chelsea since signing up for the Blues from Barcelona five years ago, but at 32, he seems to be heading closer to the end of his career.
However, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has maintained that Pedro is still an important player for him and that the Spaniard still remains in his plans and won’t leave in the January transfer window.
“Pedro is part of my plans,” said Lampard. “We started the season and he was in the team but then unfortunately he got injured at Norwich before the game and was then out for a while. I do have competition in that area so he’s played a few games here and there but I know he wants to play more and I get that.
“He certainly has something that he can contribute to us, with his experience and his ability to break lines, run behind people and maybe get those goals in and around the box. We need everybody because football can change very quickly.” Meanwhile, Pedro said last month that he’s prepared to “leave it all” and rejoin Barcelona amid rumours linking him with a return to Barcelona.
“If they call me, I’d leave it all,” Pedro told L’Esportiu. “There was a moment this pre-season, when we played against Barcelona, that, after speaking to (Ernesto Valverde), I saw a chance (of returning).
“But the door closed quickly. At this moment, I don’t know what is going to happen to me, only that I finish my contract at Chelsea at the end of the season.”