Barcelona midfielder Pedri has come out strongly against allegations that the club's players were considering a boycott of the Spanish national team during a heated player registration controversy.
"When I heard people saying Spain national team players wouldn't go to play, I was completely surprised - it's absolutely false," Pedri declared during a press conference in Jeddah. "I would never refuse a national team call-up. I love representing my country. It's simply not true, and I hope no one believed these rumors."
Registration Crisis Resolved Temporarily
The controversy emerged from a situation involving teammates Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, who faced registration complications for the season's second half. In a positive turn of events, both players have received provisional clearance to participate while Spain's sports ministry (CSD) examines Barcelona's appeal against LaLiga's registration restrictions. This interim solution allows both players to be eligible for Barcelona's Spanish Supercopa final against Real Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The issue originated when LaLiga de-registered both players on December 31 after Barcelona failed to meet a deadline for demonstrating compliance with squad spending limits. Despite the club's subsequent submission of required documentation, LaLiga determined that regulations prevented players from being registered twice with the same club within one season.
Team Unity Amid Controversy
Pedri expressed satisfaction with the temporary resolution, particularly for his affected teammates. "This is excellent news for our team," he said. "Their situation was extremely challenging, knowing they couldn't play. I sit with Dani Olmo at meals, and I've seen how difficult it was for him to travel here uncertain about his playing status. I'm truly happy for both him and Pau - they'll definitely make significant contributions to our team."
The situation has ignited debate within Spanish football circles, with several clubs, including Atlético Madrid, voicing concerns that the CSD's decision could potentially weaken LaLiga's financial control mechanisms. LaLiga is currently analyzing the CSD's ruling and weighing the possibility of an appeal.
When asked about criticism from other clubs, Pedri maintained a diplomatic approach: "Every club is entitled to their perspective on each situation. I'm just glad to have both players on our team - they're vital to our success. What others think is their prerogative."
It's worth noting that under Spanish law, players selected for national team duty are legally required to accept call-ups, which would have made any potential boycott particularly controversial.
