Spain coach Luis Enrique has said that starlet Pedri has already surpassed Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta at the same age as a result of his incredible performances in Euro 2020, with La Roja reaching the semi-finals before losing to Italy on penalties.
After playing more Barcelona matches than any other player last season, Pedri played all but one minute of Spain’s six matches in the tournament, three of which went to extra time. Against Italy in particular, he had stunned the viewing world because he did not lose a single pass.
“What Pedri has done in this tournament, 18, no one has done, not even Andres Iniesta did it. It’s incredible, unique, ”Enrique was quoted as saying by ESPN.
With a season of first team football under his belt for Las Palmas in Spain’s second division, Pedri was only 17 when he joined Barcelona last summer but immediately became a regular.
Pedri has already achieved more than Lionel Messi & Andres Iniesta of the same age / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
He played 52 in all competitions. For the sake of comparison, Lionel Messi had only made 34 senior Barça appearances when he turned 19, while Iniesta was 20 before he started to get proper chances at club level and was 22 when he made his debut in Spain.
Despite a full club season and going to the later stages of Euro 2020, Pedri will now connect with Spain’s Olympic team, where La Roja will be among the favorites to win a medal.
He is one of six players along with Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Torres, Unai Simon and Eric Garcia who went to the euro and has also been selected for the competition for 23 years in Japan.
Pedri now has a chance to win an Olympic medal / David Ramos / Getty Images
Spain won a gold medal at home in 1992, with Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique part of that team. A squad with future World Cup winners Xavi, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena and Joan Capdevila also claimed a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
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