- Title: SOCCER-SPAIN/PEDRO Pedro bids farewell to Barcelona
- Date: 24th August 2015
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (AUGUST 24, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ARGENTINE MIDFIELDER JAVIER MASCHERANO, BARCELONA CAPTAIN ANDRES INIESTA AND URUGUAYAN FORWARD LUIS SUAREZ ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ARGENTINE FORWARD LIONEL MESSI AND NEYMAR ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PEDRO ARRIVING AND SITTING DOWN ON PODIUM FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PEDRO AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHELSEA FORWARD, PEDRO, TALKING ABOUT HOW HE FEELS ABOUT LEAVING BARCELONA, SAYING: "Very happy, very happy about all the moments I lived here. The best will stay with me. With all the experiences I lived here. With my partners, the titles, to be part of this incredible club and of its history. The truth is that for me, it's very important, for this reason I'm going with my head held high knowing that I gave it my all, always." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHELSEA FORWARD, PEDRO, SAYING "I arrived yesterday happy about the recent match and, well, living this situation very emotionally. It's very emotional for me, for my family, (AUDIO of his son in the background) my colleagues and all the people I met here, and that's the best thing about this club, the people working in it, the people you leave behind because they are incredible people. And in this sense, as I said, I feel very emotional." MESSI LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHELSEA FORWARD, PEDRO, SAYING "I think the Premier League atmosphere is very good. All the stadiums are full with very committed supporters, cheering all the time, and then the game - I think it's a fast game, that we forwards like a lot and that's what helped me make the decision to go to another league, another country, another game. I think that British football is very attractive for the audience and for the players - it's very exciting. For this reason, I decided to go play there." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHELSEA FORWARD, PEDRO, TALKING ABOUT JOINING CHELSEA, SAYING "They told me yesterday that I will definitely have to sing tomorrow. I don't know what I will sing but I will have to find something. Yes, I've been received very well. John (Terry) is a spectacular captain. He has a strong mind, a winning personality. Ever since I arrived I had a lot of respect. The team welcomed me very well. All the team members. It's been great to arrive and feel comfortable at all times." SUAREZ, SPANISH DEFENDER GERARD PIQUE AND MASCHERANO LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHELSEA FORWARD, PEDRO, TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY FACING BARCELONA IN THE FUTURE, SAYING "It would be a strange feeling for me. To play in the stadium where I had such good moments, with this shirt, with this club, it would be difficult, I imagine. More than anything for the people, for how much they loved me, to face them, I wouldn't like it, first of all as a team, because they are a great team, and it would be difficult to win, and then for all the experiences I had here. The truth is I wouldn't like it, I always say I hope that we will not face each other." BARCELONA PLAYERS APPLAUDING MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE PEDRO LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA FILMING PEDRO
- Embargoed: 8th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABH379RN4GEBO57OYCZDDITTWL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Chelsea's new signing Pedro said farewell to his former Barca teammates at a press conference in Barcelona on Monday (24 August).
The 28-year-old appeared destined to join rivals Manchester United for much of the transfer window but instead signed for Chelsea earlier this week for a fee of 30 million euros ($33.59 million).
During nine seasons at Barcelona, Pedro scored 99 goals in all competitions and built a reputation as one of Europe's deadliest finishers.
Facing a crowd of former teammates, coaches and media at the conference room in Barcelona, Pedro said he was happy about his time with the Spanish side and was leaving with his "head held high".
"Very happy, very happy about all the moments I lived here. The best will stay with me. With all the experiences I lived here. With my partners, the titles, to be part of this incredible club and of its history. The truth is that for me, it's very important, for this reason I'm going with my head held high knowing that I gave it my all, always."
His wife Carolina Martin was also present at the news conference and Pedro said it was an emotional decision for the whole family.
"I arrived yesterday happy about the recent match and, well, living this situation very emotionally. It's very emotional for me, for my family, my colleagues and all the people I met here, and that's the best thing about this club, the people working in it, the people you leave behind because they are incredible people. And in this sense as I said I feel very emotional."
Pedro highlighted his potential worth to Premier League champions Chelsea with a goal, assist and eye-catching performance in their 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday (23 August).
"I think the Premier League atmosphere is very good. All the stadiums full with very committed supporters, cheering all the time, and then the game. I think it's a fast game, that we forwards like a lot and that's what helped me make the decision to go to another League, another country, another game. I think that British football is very attractive for the audience, for the players and for this League, it's very exciting. For this reason I decided to go play there."
He said he received a warm welcome from his new teammates and that he will have to go through the Chelsea tradition of making new players perform a karaoke number.
"They told me yesterday that I will definitely have to sing tomorrow. I don't know what I will sing but I will have to find something. Yes I've been received very well. John (Terry) is a spectacular captain. He has a strong mind, a winning personality. Ever since I arrived I had a lot of respect. The team welcomed me very well. All the team members. It's been great to arrive and feel comfortable at all times."
A product of the Catalan club's youth academy, Tenerife-born Pedro made his debut for the Spanish and European champions in a La Liga match against Real Murcia in 2008.
The pacy 28-year-old cemented his place in the first team under coach Pep Guardiola and in 2009 became the first player to score in six different competitions in a calendar year as Barca swept the Champions League, Spanish league and Cup, Spanish and European Super Cup and Club World Cup titles.
Known as "Pedrito" for his diminutive size, he made his first appearance for Spain in a warm-up game for the 2010 World Cup against Saudi Arabia and went on to help La Roja claim their debut global crown in South Africa.
He was also part of the successful Spain squad at Euro 2012 as Spain secured a second consecutive continental crown.
Pedro no longer commanded a regular place in the Barca starting lineup following the arrival of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez last year.
When asked how he would feel to play against Barca at the Camp Nou, Pedro said it would be a tough experience.
"It would be a strange feeling for me. To play in the stadium where I had such good moments, with this shirt, with this club, it would be difficult, I imagine. More than anything for the people, for how much they loved me, to face them, I wouldn't like it, first of all as a team, because they are a great team, and it would be difficult to win, and then for all the experiences I had here. The truth is I wouldn't like it, I always say I hope that we will not face each other."
Despite Pedro's departure from the team, Barca managed to secure victory in their opening match in La Liga against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (23 August) with a 1-0 victory at San Mames stadium. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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