Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has showered praises on Spanish midfielder Pedri, labelling him the ‘best midfielder in his world’ and more important to Barcelona than teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski or Raphinha.
Although Barcelona’s attacking trio have tallied 86 goals this season showing their value to the Blaugrana’s treble-charge, Kroos has named Pedri as the club’s most crucial talent on the pitch.
Pedri’s impact
The 22-year old has played a major role at the Catalan giants since joining in 2020, with his midfield presence a key part of how German coach Hansi Flick’s sets up the team.
Pedri has missed only one Laliga game this season, a 7-1 win over Valencia in January, making 31 starts and two substitute appearances.
The Spanish midfielder has six goals and seven assists in all competitions, although his trickery and movement makes him able to impact games from the midfield position.
What Kroos said
Kroos who retired after a trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid last summer said: “For me, a player like Pedri is more important than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha or Lewandowski.
They may decide the results of matches, but to do that, Pedri is currently the best player in the world in his position.
He’s a player you will miss when he’s not playing, whoever you are playing against. He doesn’t just score goals or provide assists, he offers solutions.”
The 35-year old who was one of the best midfielders during his active days, also stated the difficulty he faced while playing against the Spanish wizard.
“I experienced it myself, once especially,” he continued. “He demolished us [Madrid] at home. Once or twice I thought I could get to him, because he doesn’t look so quick, but he dribbles so well and I couldn’t even stop him with a foul.
He’s not like Messi, whose speed of movement you see. Pedri doesn’t seem so quick, but he really is”, he continued.
“He’s one of the few midfielders in his position that has the ability to beat dribble past players when there is no space. A player like Pedri helps you in every area of the game.”
What next for Barcelona?
The Blaugrana hold a four-point advantage over closest rivals Real Madrid in Laliga ahead of the El Clasico next weekend.
However, they have to navigate a difficult trip to the Guiseppe Meazza to face Inter Milan in their UCL semifinal second leg encounter on Tuesday night, after a 3-3 draw in the first leg last week.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
