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Pedro goes home to explain Chelsea move

Xinhua, August 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former FC Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez had a dream debut for his new club, Chelsea on Sunday, scoring one goal and making another in their 3-2 win away to West Bromwich Albion, but on Monday he flew back to give a press conference at his former club to explain his decision to leave Barca and join a club coached by Jose Mourinho.

"I've always wanted playing time and here (at Barca) it was difficult for me to have that continuity. Leaving was the best solution and now I am looking forward to a new challenge," said the player, who was behind Neymar, Leo Messi and Luis Suarez in the Barca pecking order.

He admitted Barca had wanted him to stay, but Chelsea's offer had convinced him the time had come to move after a season in which he said he had ... "suffered more than any other time at the club. I sensed that I wasn't in a prominent position and that made me feel sad."

"That's why I decided to go down a new road; I wanted to feel important and it was not a question of money. I had to leave to aspire to new things and feel important again," he explained.

Pedro had looked to be on the verge of joining Manchester United, but explained, "Chelsea were the quickest to get the deal sorted out and closed."

Moving to Chelsea means he is now working with Jose Mourinho, the former Barca assistant coach, who has now become the club's arch enemy. Pedro was willing to let bygones be bygones.

"I know who he is and what has happened in the past, but I liked what he said to me," he explained.

"He wants to make the team strong and he is counting on me....I don't want to speak about the past, only my hopes for the future," commented Pedro, who concluded by saying he had always been treated with respect at Barca and that he would prefer to never have to return to the Camp Nou with a different club. Endi