Pedri has established himself as one of the most solid pillars of FC Barcelona. At 20 years old, he is the team's compass, the engine that makes all of Barça's play work.
He has been chosen MVP on several occasions this season and is one of the few indisputable players in Hansi Flick's starting eleven. In this regard, Pedri's quality is measured not only by his goals and assists but by his ability to organize the play and connect all the pieces of the team.
Every time Pedri is not on the field, Barça notices it. His absence leaves a void in the midfield that players can't easily fill.
The team's dynamics suffer, as there is no other player with the same control and vision of the game as he has. This is why Hansi Flick, aware of the importance of strengthening the midfield, has begun to consider signing a top-level midfielder to accompany Pedri.
Barça's interest in Álex Baena
One of the names that has strongly resonated at Barça is Álex Baena, a midfielder from Villarreal. Baena has stood out for his excellent ability to dominate the midfield, his vision of the game, and his ability to associate with his teammates.
Despite being a young player, his maturity and quality have placed him among the most promising midfielders in LaLiga. Hansi Flick sees in Baena an ideal profile for what Barça needs: a player who can dominate the midfield and provide the freshness and creativity the team seeks.
In this regard, he would have communicated to Barça's management to consider his incorporation: "So Pedri can rest." Additionally, Álex Baena has confessed on several occasions his desire to play for Barça.
The midfielder has publicly spoken about his admiration for the club and his dream of being part of it someday.
This could facilitate negotiations and make his signing more accessible, but the main obstacle remains his release clause, which is set at 60 million euros.
This figure could make the signing complicated, but it is not an insurmountable obstacle for a club like Barça, which seeks to strengthen its squad with quality players.
There's competition: Atlético de Madrid also wants Baena
The interest in Álex Baena doesn't only come from Barça. Atlético de Madrid has also set its sights on the Villarreal midfielder.
With the decline in performance of Antoine Griezmann, the colchonero club sees Baena as an ideal candidate to strengthen its midfield and replace the Frenchman.
Thus, it seems that the competition for Baena's signing will be fierce, and the player's future could depend on the offers he receives and his own preferences.
Álex Baena's future at Barça
Barça is closely following Álex Baena, but the high release clause and the competition from other teams like Atlético de Madrid make his signing difficult.
Despite this, the club continues to look for alternatives to strengthen the midfield and still sees Baena as a key piece for the future. If Villarreal agrees to negotiate his departure, Barça could be very close to securing his signing for next summer.