Pedri has quickly risen to fame for both his club and country. He has played a vital role in the Barcelona midfield last season and has also been trusted by Luis Enrique in the Spanish midfield in the ongoing Euro 2020 tournament.
Las Palmas coach Pepe Mel has now revealed how close Real Madrid were to signing Pedri during his Las Palmas days.
Pepe Mel in an interview with ‘A Diario’ on Friday, via Marca: “[Emiliano] Butragueno was interested in Pedri, in my opinion it was a mistake that Real Madrid didn’t sign him.”
“Taking a gamble on a player who has not played a single match in professional football is an act of faith.”
Mel thinks the comparisons between Pedri and Andres Iniesta as unfair because Pedri has just started his career, and Iniesta is one of the best players Spain has ever produced.
He said: “You are comparing [Andres] Iniesta, who won the European Championship [in 2008 and 2012] and the World Cup [in 2010] and who played at Barcelona for many seasons, with a young man who has hardly played 50 matches in professional football.”
Pepe Mel has also warned Spain against the dangers of complacency against Switzerland but has praised Morata for his desire to succeed for Spain.
Mel said: “In a tournament of single-match ties, desire counts.”
“There are no big or small teams at this stage, and there are precedents in this competition.”
“[Morata] is working. He is now not only scoring as he wanted him to, but he is also working hard defensively and creating chances.”
“Morata is an important player for the team and he is showing it.”
Spain faces Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2020 tonight.
