By Martin Graham
Earlier this week, Barcelona’s 22-year-old midfielder Pedri was formally listed among the many contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. His identify enters the dialog following a standout 12 months through which he performed a key function in securing a home treble for the Catalan aspect and contributed to Spain’s run to the UEFA Nations League ultimate.
In an interview with France Soccer (through Mundo Deportivo), Pedri admitted that final 12 months’s triumph by Rodri Hernández has impressed him to consider a midfielder can declare the award. “Often the prize goes to forwards, however Rodri’s success proves our place ought to be recognised extra. Why not dream about it? In fact, I’m not the one who chooses the winner; that’s for the voters to resolve,” he mentioned. The Spaniard added that he was happy along with his personal efficiency final season, crediting constant type and the belief proven by his coach as main elements in his success.
Insights on Barcelona’s success and Hansi Flick’s function
Pedri additionally mirrored on why Barcelona thrived final season, attributing it to the squad’s skill to regroup and the rise of younger gamers able to making an affect. He highlighted that these rising abilities had grown up inside the membership’s footballing philosophy, making it simpler to combine into the primary group. In keeping with him, the mix of youth and expertise has helped create a powerful unit able to reaching even greater ranges.
Talking about head coach Hansi Flick, Pedri praised his management model. Whereas the German would possibly seem strict from the surface, the midfielder described him as a fatherly determine who takes care of his gamers and maintains shut consideration to their wants, which has helped him really feel safe and revel in his soccer.
Respect for Mbappé and Bellingham
Through the dialog, Pedri additionally commented on Actual Madrid’s star high quality. He identified that Kylian Mbappé is extraordinarily tough to cease in one-on-one conditions because of his tempo and ability. On Jude Bellingham, who is commonly in comparison with him on-line, Pedri famous the Englishman’s mix of bodily energy and technical high quality, describing it as a difficult mixture to face on the pitch.