KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Spain’s Euro 2020 midfielder Pedri is at the centre of an increasingly angry dispute between Barcelona and the national federation.

Olympic team manager Luis de la Fuente has selected Pedri, outstanding in Spain’s run to the quarter-finals of the European Championship, for the Games football tournament in Tokyo later this month.

Barcelona have refused to release the player, pointing out that the Olympic Games is not a protected tournament in world federation FIFA’s international calendar.

The club have objected to Pedri’s selection on the grounds of the physical pressure between last season, the Euro finals and the fact that he will have only a fortnight’s break between the new campaign.

However the RFEF has responded that it is insisting on selecting Pedri and expects the club to release for the Games tournament which Spain open on July 22 against Egypt in Sapporo .

Should Spain reach the final on August 7, Barçelona would be forced to give the midfielder two more weeks’ holiday under the terms of a national agreement with the players’ union.

This would deny Barcelona the services of the player for the first weekend of the LaLiga season on August 14 and 15 .

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