<
>

Pedro unsure of Barcelona future, wants Camp Nou stay

Barcelona forward Pedro says he's unsure whether he will stay at the Camp Nou beyond the summer.

Pedro, 27, has featured in all but one La Liga game for Barca this season but has only completed three full matches and has come on as a substitute 10 times.

The Spain international acknowledged on Thursday that he faces a difficult task competing against the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez for a starting role, but said he does not know whether the club will ask him to leave at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

"Every year it's complicated to play here because I'm competing against the best players on the planet," he said, according to AS. "It's difficult to be 100 percent happy, but I feel comfortable here.

"Those [of] us who have fewer minutes want to play. I don't know if they'll ask me to leave. I'm happy here and I want to continue but I don't know what might happen tomorrow. We'll talk at the end of the season.

"The players that are here are very important players and they score a lot of goals. I can only work hard and try to help the team.

"We've been working the same as we always do but we're in a good dynamic in terms of results and morale. We are on a good run and we're all in good shape physically. Hopefully we'll have something to show for it at the end of the season."

Upon suggestions that manager Luis Enrique could opt to use him as a right-back given Barca's transfer ban and Dani Alves' contract running out at the end of the season, Pedro said: "I've never played there, although I have played at left-back in training for Spain. But I'm a forward.

"It's difficult to play there because you have to watch your line with the centre-backs, defend. ... It's not my natural position but if they want to convert me I'll be happy to do it."

Pedro believes that Brazil captain Neymar -- who turned 23 on Feb. 5 -- could one day match Messi's level, saying: "Neymar could get to the same level; he's a great player and full of confidence. If he carries on like this, he'll be the best in the world. We congratulated him today because it's his birthday. He's happy here and that's important for the team."

Of Suarez -- who has scored just twice in 12 La Liga appearances since netting 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season -- Pedro said: "The first season is always difficult but he's full of beans. He's giving it everything and he's scored some important goals. Maybe he's been a bit unlucky, but he's adapting well."

Barcelona travel to face Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 8, and Pedro insists the Blaugrana must win to keep pace with Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are four points clear of their clasico rivals but face Atletico in the Madrid derby on Saturday, with Pedro adding: "If we fall seven points behind it will difficult to pull them back, but there are a lot of games left and they have some tough away trips, as do we.

"It's a difficult game but we have to think about ourselves. If [Madrid] slip up, it would be welcome."