Barcelona midfielder Pedri has had a troubled season thus far, having missed a whopping 17 matches due to hamstring and muscle injury. To put things in perspective, the 21-year-old has spent a total of 128 days on the treatment table this season alone.
Interestingly, he has not completed the full 90 minutes since appearing in a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Athletic Club in a Copa del Rey encounter in late January.
Against Real Madrid last weekend, he came on as a last sub, playing 38 minutes. As such, a user on X (formerly Twitter), harshly criticised the Barcelona midfielder, highlighting his continued absence.
“We need to talk seriously about Pedri: Wasted talent, 0 testosterone and bad milk,” he wrote.
“All Barcelona knows what he and his brother do at night. Physically he can’t stand to play 30 minutes, He spends more time injured than playing,” he added.
Pedri’s brother responds
Fernando Gonzalez, Pedri’s older brother, eventually engaged in a heated argument with the user. Fernando felt that the criticism directed at his brother was unfair and unwarranted.
He defended his brother by saying, “Tell me what we do? You can like my brother’s sporting career more or less, but to question his work and commitment is to be ignorant and not know us at all. You are a b*stard and a liar.”
Additionally, Fernando addressed the user’s criticism regarding Pedri’s eating habits and alleged late-night outings, which could potentially impact his physical recovery as a midfielder.
“First of all, if we go out, we are at the age of that and we are young, Above all, we are people!!!
“And secondly, of course, we do things, we usually comply with the diet, watch football, brush our teeth and sleep, maybe this is what you mean.
“I’m the one who knows my brother best, I’m sure that with his work and sacrifice life will put him in the place he deserves, it’s only a matter of time,” he added.
For what it is worth, Pedri was only brought in after Frenkie de Jong’s injury during Sunday’s El Clasico.
Xavi had initially chosen to keep him on the bench following his heavy involvement against PSG and it is clear that he is not yet back to full fitness.
