Barcelona midfielder Pedri expressed his lifelong connection to the club in an interview with UEFA ahead of the club\'s Champions League tie against Inter Milan this week. The 22-year-old Spanish international detailed how his Barcelona fandom began during his childhood in Tenerife. He regularly attended local fan club gatherings to watch matches with fellow supporters.
Pedri cited Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta as his primary inspiration, often studying videos of the midfielder\'s playing style. His admiration extended to trying to replicate specific techniques from Iniesta\'s gameplay.
From Fan To Star Player
Pedri vividly recalled Barcelona\'s 2015 Champions League triumph, particularly Ivan Rakitić\'s goal in the final against Juventus. He watched that victory celebration at a supporters\' club as a young fan.
Now representing the club he supported throughout his youth, Pedri praised current manager Hansi Flick\'s approach with Barcelona\'s young squad. He described Flick as a father figure who provides guidance while maintaining necessary discipline.
The midfielder also addressed his Ballon d\'Or aspirations following midfielder Rodri\'s recent win. He believes the prestigious award is now more attainable for players in his position.
\"It\'s my life. Since I was a young kid, that has been the case. I would always watch the games with my family, and my father always instilled it in me as a kid. I would always go to watch games at the supporters\' club and always wanted them to win, and now, I can enjoy it from the inside. I\'m living everything I dreamt of, and right now, it\'s everything to me,\" Pedri told UEFA.
\"By watching so many matches on TV, watching videos of Andrés or Xavi, I think something sticks with you,\" said Pedri of his inspirations. \"You try to copy them, you try to practice it, but it’s tough to be at that level. So, you try to improve every day so that, one day, you can do what they did.
\"I would often watch an Iniesta video, who was my idol, and I would try to copy what he did in the video, or what he did in a specific play, how he protected the ball. You sometimes try to copy them; other times, you struggle because it’s tough, but you still try to do it in the best way possible.\"
Speaking about Flick\'s management style, Pedri explained: \"It is a young squad and he is a father in the way that he always tries to look after us. He is there for you if you\'re not playing. He always tries to help you and, asides from being strict – which he is and which you can see from outside – the side of him that you don\'t see from outside is that he always tries to help you when you\'re playing badly.\"
Pedri remains focused on team success before individual accolades.
\"It\'s always been a dream of mine to lift the Ballon d\'Or. But right now, there\'s a month to go, and the focus is on the team – on winning the three trophies,\" he concluded.