Pedri - the new troubleshooter at Barca
Many Barca fans are probably thinking about their luck, remembering that former coach Ronald Koeman stopped all possibilities to lend Pedri to another club more than two years ago. The Dutch military leader only needed a few training sessions to discover that the 17-year-old player would become one of the best midfielders in the world. And Pedri also only needs one season with Barca to win the award for the best young player of the year - "Golden Boy".
The arrival of coach Xavi and the overall progress of the team helped Pedri improve even more. From focusing on skills to lead the midfield, create space, open opportunities and participate in defense, the Spaniard is developing more scoring skills.
Pedri has scored seven goals in 29 games this season. He is the fifth highest scoring midfielder in major tournaments, behind only Jamal Musiala (Bayern) with 14 goals in 28 games and Jude Bellingham (Dortmund) with 10 goals in 27 games, Brais Mendez (Sociedad) with 10 goals after. 30 matches and Oihan Sancet (Bilbao) with eight goals in 24 games.
Most of Pedri's tables (five out of seven) are decisive. Barca beat Celta, Getafe, Girona and Villarreal 1-0 thanks to four goals from Pedri. The midfielder also scored an equalizer in the 2-1 win over Osasuna, a goal in the Valladolid match and a goal in the 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Two wins against Getafe and Girona took place when Robert Lewandowski, the player who scored the most for Barca since the beginning of the season, was absent due to suspension.
Fans often compare Pedri with the legendary Andres Iniesta. There are many similarities between them in terms of gameplay, vision, composure, humble personality and ability to work for the common good. However, everyone can recognize that Pedri is superior to his senior in scoring ability. The 20-year-old midfielder has scored 15 goals in his first 100 games for Barca and has his 16th in his 101st, while Iniesta has scored five in the same number of games.
Pedri joined Barca from Las Palmas, the club is playing in the Second Division. Barca then had to pay $5.5 million, and if Pedri continues to be successful, the team that is leading La Liga will have to pay tens of millions of dollars in additional fees.
Pedri is also the star of the Spain team. He was named in the list of teams that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2021, the final of the Olympic Games in 2021 and the round of 1/8 of the World Cup in 2022. At Euro 2021, he won the title of Best Young Player and was named in the typical team.
This season, Pedri and his teammates won the Spanish Super Cup. Barca also looks to La Liga when they are 11 points ahead of Real, into the semi-finals of the King's Cup and present in the Europa League play-off round.
