The story behind the Pedro to Man Utd transfer deal
The 11-year association between Barcelona and Pedro is drawing to a close with the Spain forward on the verge of a move to Manchester United which could eventually be worth £22.3 million (€31.2m).
As in any long-term relationship, there are bound to be bumps in the road - Pedro has constantly fought for Barcelona's affection and recognition throughout a trophy-laden career - but it is the mutual respect between the player and the European champions that will ultimately ensure that United are to get their man at a sensationally low price, just two months after the 28-year-old signed a new four-year deal at the Camp Nou.
Only when club director Robert Fernandez spoke out of turn on Tuesday, to tell the world that Pedro had asked for a move, did player and club stray from the united front that had been maintained throughout this protracted saga.
United fans also have Liverpool to thank in no small way, since the Merseysiders' decision to sell Luis Suarez last summer pushed Pedro out of the starting XI for good. Ultimately, the 28-year-old had grown too accustomed to being regarded as the odd one out as four forwards fought for the three spots in Barca's front line.
After breaking into the first-team squad in 2009, Pedro faced the formidable task of displacing one of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry but the Spaniard forced his way up the pecking order to form part of a fearsome attacking trident alongside Messi and David Villa as the club beat United to win the Champions League again in 2011. In a side considered one of the best to ever play the game, Pedro was key.
He was the man to be affected most though by the arrivals of Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez. Again he showed that he had the fight to stick around at the club he loved and battled for his place in the first team.
The signing of Suarez was one fight too many, though, as it turned out. The Uruguayan cost Barcelona £75m and there was no way that Luis Enrique was going to hold him back. Even taking into account the need to rotate his squad, the Barca coach only found a starting spot for Pedro on 20 occasions across all competitions in 2014-15. The biggest loser in the 122-goal exploits of Messi, Neymar and Suarez was undoubtedly Pedro.
So when Barcelona announced two days before their Champions League final meeting with Juventus that Pedro would be signing a new four-year contract, it appeared that there would be more substitute appearances to come for the 51-cap Spain international.
The club's statement revealing the deal featured a key line in which it confirmed that "his buyout clause will remain at €150m [£110m]". In the weeks leading up to the renewal, it had been suggested that Pedro would sign a new deal only if his €150m release figure were reduced to allow him a greater say, should the life of sitting on the outside looking in begin to frustrate him still further.
Barcelona, though, wanted to retain a say in the transfer process should it come about. Had they reduced the clause, Pedro would have had free rein to join any club who matched the asking price, even if that mean him signing for a Chelsea or even – heaven forbid – Real Madrid.
Yet Barca also wanted to do right by a player who had become one of the most treasured assets in the first-team squad over the last 11 years. While the official line was that the €150m figure remained intact, behind the scenes there had been a gentlemen's agreement that a lesser amount of €30m (£22m) would be accepted if the transfer suited all parties.
United might be considered one of Barcelona's biggest rivals on the European stage but there remains a huge amount of respect between the two footballing institutions. Once Pedro showed an inclination to leave, Barca agreed not to stand in his way while also making it abundantly clear that they wanted him to stay.
It was the least that they owed Pedro after his years of fighting his way into the best forward lines in football.
It then became just a matter of timing and, while some talks took place either side of the International Champions Cup meeting between the two clubs in Santa Clara, the parties separated without a final agreement when United headed for their final tour game in Chicago and Barcelona flew to Maryland to face Chelsea.
A further delay came about when Barca insisted on waiting until Neymar and Messi had both returned from delayed summer breaks before brokering a deal and they also haggled with United over the particulars of a transfer which could ultimately come in €2m north of the original €30m agreement.
But when Neymar's contraction of the mumps resulted in Barca asking for more time, Pedro ran out of patience. Fernandez's announcement that the player wanted out was the first sign that not everybody was pulling in the same direction and Pedro reacted with some displeasure after coming on to net the winner in the pulsating 5-4 Uefa Super Cup win over Sevilla.
"I am not completely happy in the situation," Pedro told reporters. "Robert Fernandez said something he doesn't know. I spoke with the captains, the president, the coach... and only a few seconds with him. I don't understand why he said I asked to leave using these words; he doesn't know how I feel in this team.
"I will always be a Barcelona supporter, no matter what finally happens.
"When there are rumours that I can leave, it is not an easy situation for me. I have always tried to give my best to the club. I am ambitious and I want to play as much as possible. I was angry when I knew I would be on the bench, especially having thought I'd have a chance because of Neymar's illness.
"I don't want to leave Barcelona but it is a complicated situation. It is not a money question but a continuity question. I want to play, Luis Enrique preferred other players and I have been waiting a lot of time."
But the waiting is almost over. A marriage of convenience is drawing to a close, the Super Cup divorce party went off with a bang and United are ready to welcome their new man with open arms.
