Barcelona must now rely on other players to succeed after Lionel Messi’s departure. Pedri, the Spanish wonderkid who has emerged as perhaps the best youngster in international football over the past year, is one of those players now and in the future.
Nobody in Europe has played more football in the last 12 months than the 18-year-old, who has represented Barcelona in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, as well as Spain in qualification matches, the European Championship, and the Olympic Games. After Saturday’s match against Athletic Club, Barcelona has chosen to give Pedri a two-week break.
About the Spanish Player
Pedro González López, also known as Pedri, is a central midfielder for the Spanish national team. Pedri is not a La Masia graduate, but he is seen as a homegrown talent capable of leading the club into the following decade.
Pepe Mel, the former coach of Real Betis and West Brom, is credited as being the first professional coach to see Pedri’s obvious skill, awarding him a four-year deal with Las Palmas at the age of 16.
It should never be taken for granted that he would be the top player for his country at Euro 2020 just two years later. It isn’t the case. Players like Pedri don’t show up very frequently, but when they do, they come prepared.
Pedri has appeared in 74 matches for Barcelona and the Spanish national team throughout the 2020/21 season and into the new season, appearing in both the European Championship and the Olympic Games. The youthful midfielder will miss the club’s next game against Getafe at Camp Nou on Sunday, August 29 due to the break.
His New Deal with Barcelona
From Barcelona’s standpoint, signing him for an initial fee of €6 million seems like a risky move, but he had enchanted new coach Ronald Koeman after just one training session.
Ronald Koeman believes that the player needs a fortnight of recuperation to fully heal and return to his best. Koeman admitted that he had already spoken to Spain manager Luis Enrique to obtain this permission for Pedri, so it appears that the 18-year-old will be able to take a two-week break and miss the international break before returning for the match against Sevilla on Saturday 11 September at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
Negotiations to extend and improve the Canary Islander’s contract are now underway, with a conclusion expected in September. Pedri might extend his contract until 2026.
Pedri is widely seen as Barcelona’s future, and the Blaugrana have become increasingly keen to bind him to a new contract for as long as feasible. Pedri is not a La Masia graduate, but he is seen as a homegrown talent capable of leading the club into the following decade.
Barcelona’s goal in the coming weeks will be to try to offload high-earning players like Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti, but Pedri’s extension will be on the table as soon as the transfer market closes on September 1st.
