Widely regarded as one of football’s brightest young talents at present, the 2021 Golden Boy recipient came close to signing for arch-rivals Real Madrid in the past, whose rejection fueled him onwards.
Another stellar performance – and result – in his bag, 19-year-old Pedri continues to go from strength to strength. The youngster was a member of the Barcelona team, which beat rivals, and LaLiga leaders, Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico the previous weekend. However, had things turned out differently, the Spain international could have been playing in the colors of rivals Real, instead.
◉ Most tackles made for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Sergio Busquets (4)
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 20, 2022
◉ Most take-ons completed for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Pedri (3)
◉ Most chances created for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Frenkie de Jong & Ousmane Dembélé (3)
The midfield delivered. 😤 pic.twitter.com/GnIlmAlys0
Speaking to Marca in a recent interview, the youngster chronicled his days spent training with the Real Madrid B team, following which the club told him he wasn’t at the requisite level yet.
Pedri claimed that he used the rejection as fuel to the fire and eventually ended up signing for Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2020.
“I trained three days,”
“One I think they were playing and they took me down with the B team, to train, and in the end, they told me that I didn’t have the level to be there and that they were leaving me to keep looking.
“At first, you don’t like being rejected anywhere, but then it motivates you to think that if they didn’t want you now you’re going to work so that something else can come in the future. I remember who rejected me, if I saw him I would tell him that now I am enjoying myself at Barcelona.”
The Blaugrana signed Pedri from Las Palmas in 2019 and left the youngster to play his football in the Segunda Division for another year. When the youngster arrived at Camp Nou a year later, he was thrown straight into the first team by the then manager Ronald Koeman, a challenge which he took in his stride, and soon after, established himself as a regular starter.
The 19-year-old forced his way into Spain national team head coach Luis Enrique’s thinking due to his domestic performances for 2020 Euro, where he was crowned the Best Young Player of the tournament.
