End of an era: Emotional Pedro bids farewell to Barcelona as Man Utd move nears completion

Pedro

Pedro wrote a fairy-tale ending to his Barcelona career last night ahead of his expected move to Manchester United.

 

The striker told Barca he wanted to leave before the UEFA Super Cup with Sevilla ­– then came off the bench in extra-time to clinch a dramatic 5-4 win in Tbilisi.

It was the perfect close to his time at Nou Camp, where he had become frustrated at his lack of game-time behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

 

David de Gea has been urged to stay at Manchester United by club legend Bryan Robson

United will now trigger the £22million release clause in his contract and hope to complete the deal by the end of the week to make the Spain international their sixth signing of the summer.

Barca threw away a 4-1 lead in an incredible game as Sevilla fought back to force the game into extra-time before Pedro came on to score from close range after Messi had a shot blocked by keeper Beto.

Meanwhile, Bryan Robson has urged David de Gea to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo and stay with United for one final glorious season.

 

Like De Gea, Ronaldo wanted to move to Real Madrid in 2008 but was persuaded by Sir Alex Ferguson to stay for one more year and played a huge part in United winning the Premier League, Club World Cup, and League Cup and reaching the final of the Champions League in the 2008-09 season.

Former United captain Robson believes goalkeeper De Gea should set aside his ambition to move to the Bernabeu and reclaim his place as No? 1 at Old Trafford for the final year of his contract.

“You have to be a professional about it,” said Robson. “It’s like the Ronaldo situation. The club weren’t prepared to release him for another year and he had to get his head round it.

 

“Ronaldo went about it in a professional way, had a great season then got his dream move. If that’s what David has to do, then that’s what he has to do.”

United sources insist that their stance on unsettled De Gea has not changed. They will only sell him in this transfer window if Real offer a world-record £35million fee for a goalkeeper or are willing to trade central defender Sergio Ramos in a swap deal.

Bryan Robson was speaking at the launch of Marathonbet, Manchester United’s Official Sports Betting Partner. Marathonbet is offering a £30 matched bet to all new customers before the end of August.