A biopsy and a Baltimore lab: Barcelona's route to end Pedri's injuries

2021 was a turning point in Pedri Gonzalez's career. At just 18 years old, the inside back played 4,145 minutes in 54 games. On 29 September he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of action for the rest of the year.

With that injury, something changed. The indestructible guy, who was able to play minutes and minutes non-stop, was suffering more and more problems, especially muscle problems. If we add them all together, Pedri has spent one of the last three years sidelined.

Neither the midfielder's physical constitution nor his work ethic have helped in recent years, but according to 'Mundo Deportivo', Pedri asked Barcelona for help to end his injury ordeal at the end of last season.

According to 'Mundo Deportivo', Joan Laporta and Deco contacted Julio Tous, who started working as an external trainer in April and has been Hansi Flick's chief fitness trainer since the summer. He was in charge of directing the new strategy with Pedri and now follows him day by day.

The first thing Tous decided to do, in coordination with the medical services and with the will of the footballer, was to perform a biopsy. Samples of his muscle tissue were collected and sent to a laboratory in Baltimore (United States) specialising in genetic muscle diseases.

These analyses were intended to find out the player's build, his weaknesses and how he could be treated to improve it. In the end, the conclusions dictated that Pedri Gonzalez should do strength exercises daily.

Pedri started this new routine at the end of last season and the truth is that since his return against PSG in April, he has not been injured again. The injury in Germany was a fluke, nothing to do with the problems that had plagued him in recent years.

Although this forced him to start the pre-season late, Pedri was available from the first La Liga game in Valencia and has played without further setbacks. He returned to the Spain squad and played in both Nations League matches against Serbia and Switzerland.

Now, after the international break, he will face the real hard part, playing three games in eight days.