Barcelona midfielder Pedri has made several lifestyle changes including altering his diet in a bid to combat his injury problems.
Pedri, 21, is currently sidelined with an injury while muscular problems have severely curtailed his availability for Barcelona in recent seasons.
The Spain international has started just 39 of a possible 94 La Liga matches since the start of the 2021-22 campaign and will miss the league trip to his former club Las Palmas this midweek.
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Pedri believes his excessive number of matches in the 2020-21 campaign — his first season at Barcelona, in which he celebrated his 18th birthday and was routinely selected by Barcelona, Spain and Spain’s Under-23 side during the Olympics — may have played a part in his subsequent injuries.
The midfielder has now explained he has made lifestyle changes away from the pitch, including a new diet, to help him avoid new setbacks.
“My first season at the club was so long,” Pedri told streamer Ibai Llanos on his Twitch channel.
“I played 73 games and it might have made an impact on my current state, we won’t know, but at that point I had the desire to conquer the world.
“Everyone says that as soon as you have the first injury, it’s easier to have new ones. But now I am working on both a physical and psychological level to make sure the injuries do not reoccur.
“I’ve changed my diet, now I also do pilates after a recommendation from Carles Puyol. I also use a hyperbaric chamber frequently.”
Pedri added that he does not know when he will return from his current injury setback, “but I think it will be soon.”
Barcelona take on Las Palmas on January 4 as they return to La Liga action before taking on semi-professional side Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on January 7.
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Barcelona need Pedri more than ever but his recovery has raised concerns
(Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)