Everything you need to know about Pedri, Barcelona's midfield prodigy
Pedri, whose full name is Pedro González López, is a Spanish professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He was born on November 25, 2002, in Tegueste, a town located in the Canary Islands, which is an autonomous community of Spain.
The Spanish international grew up in a football-loving family, and his passion for the sport was evident from a young age. He began playing football at the age of six, joining the youth academy of CD San Isidro, a local club in Tenerife. After impressing with his skills and technical ability, he was scouted by UD Las Palmas, a professional club based in the Canary Islands. He joined the club's youth academy in 2018, and quickly made a name for himself as one of the most promising young talents in Spanish football.
The midfield magician made his professional debut for UD Las Palmas in the 2019-2020 season, at the age of 16. He played in 36 matches, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists, and quickly established himself as a key player in the team. His impressive performances caught the attention of several top clubs in Europe, including FC Barcelona, who signed him in September 2020.
His debut season at FC Barcelona was nothing short of spectacular.
Despite being only 18 years old, he quickly established himself as one of the most talented and influential players in the team. He played in 52 matches across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing six assists, and played a crucial role in the team's success in winning the Copa del Rey and reaching the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.
The wonderkid's style of play is characterized by his technical ability, vision, and passing accuracy. He has been compared to some of the greatest midfielders in Spanish football history, including Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández, due to his ability to control the tempo of the game and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is also known for his work ethic and his willingness to track back and defend, making him a valuable asset for his team both in attack and defense.
Pedri's impressive performances at FC Barcelona have earned him several accolades and awards. He was named as the Best Young Player at the Euro 2020 tournament, where he played a key role in helping the Spanish national team reach the semi-finals. He was also named the Best Midfielder in the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League season and was included in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season.
Off the pitch, he is known for his humble and down-to-earth personality. He has spoken about the importance of his family and the role they have played in his success and often attributes his achievements to hard work and dedication. He is also an active supporter of charitable causes and has been involved in several initiatives aimed at helping underprivileged children in the Canary Islands.
The generational talent is a young and immensely talented footballer who has quickly established himself as one of the most promising players in the sport.
His technical ability, work ethic, and vision have earned him several accolades and awards, and he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players to watch in the years to come. With his best years still ahead of him, Pedri has the potential to become one of the greatest midfielders in football history.
Here are 13 fun facts about Pedri you need to know…!
@pedriAttracting attention from an early age 🧒
Pedri showed glimpses of his talent since an early age and was given the opportunity to showcase his ability when he was just four.
The Spaniard's brother, Fernando, was playing at a local football school when his coach noticed a young player itching to get on the field. The young kid was making haste and asking for his family's permission to get on the field which attracted the coach's attention.
It was Pedri!
The current Blaugrana midfielder went on to join the academy of CD San Isidro when he was just six, as he continued his development as a footballer.
AdvertisementLas Palmas' youngest goalscorer ⚽
Pedri made his senior appearance on August 18, 2019—a month after signing his first professional contract—when he was 16 years old. This occurred in a Segunda division loss to Huesca by a score of 1-0 at home.
He created history at UD Las Palmas one more month later. Against Sporting Gijon, he smashed his first goal as a senior player. The goal gave the home team a narrow 1-0 win but the goal set the stage for a talented future for the former Las Palmas midfielder.
The winning goal against Sporting Gijon made Pedri the youngest goalscorer in the history of the team in yellow at the age of 16 years, 9 months, and 23 days. The youngster finished the campaign with four goals and five assists, which was considered the breakthrough season for the magician.
Getty Images73 matches in his first senior season 😲🤯
Pedri signed from UD Las Palmas in the second division for Barcelona in the summer of 2019. In September 2020, the 18-year-old made his debut for one of the biggest heavyweights in Spanish football.
Since his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 routing of Villareal, the wonderkid became a crucial piece in Ronald Koeman's eleven. Owing to his astonishing performances, the generational talent was offered a start by his Dutch manager in November when Barcelona lost 1-0 at Getafe.
And since his full-time debut for the Catalan giants, Pedri ended the season playing in 53 matches for his club. Not only that, the midfielder stepped into the limelight for La Furia Roja as well as he was picked by Luis Enrique in Spain's squad, taking up his tally to 74 games played in the season at the tender age of 18.
This is a remarkable accomplishment, especially in light of the fact that he accomplished it while only 18 years old and competing in one of the toughest football leagues in the world.
A number of awards, including the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season and the Euro 2020 Best Young Player awards, were given to Pedri for his efforts during that season.
Pedri niñoA centre-back in his early days!
On 25th November 2002, Pedri was born in a Spanish family in Bajamar. His family relocated from Bajamar to Tegueste when he was three. Tegueste is where Pedri was nurtured.
Pedri started his amateur journey at the age of six by enrolling in the UD Tegueste academy of his boyhood club. Pedri began his Tegueste career as a centre-back before switching positions after an assessment.
The young midfielder played as a defender in the early days but was viewed as a midfielder by the hierarchy at Tegueste. When he was a youngster in 2015, he moved to Juventud Laguna.