Barcelona new captain seen as a ‘big brother’ or ‘godfather’ to youngsters in the squad | OneFootball

FC Barcelona announced their five club captains for the 2024/25 season last month, with two new names, Pedri and Raphinha, joining the leadership group alongside Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong.

With Sergi Roberto’s exit, Ter Stegen naturally assumed the first-captain spot, with Araujo and De Jong moving up a rung and becoming the second and third captains, respectively.

Raphinha was named the fourth captain with Pedri rounding up the list as the fifth skipper.

Pedri seen as a ‘godfather’ to the youngsters

Now, The Athletic has come out with a detailed report about Barcelona’s captains and highlights why Pedri was named as one of the skippers.

At just 21, Pedri is the youngest member of the new leadership group at Barcelona.

However, sources within the dressing room claim that his calm demeanour and the way he carries himself have made him almost like a ‘big brother’ or a ‘godfather’ to the younger players, such as Gavi.

Pedri is a mentor for the youngsters at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Pedri has also forged strong connections with the team’s veterans, as was seen when he quickly established a rapport with Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets when he joined from Las Palmas in 2020.

As such, the Spanish midfield maestro is recognized as a rising leader within the squad and is considered a potential future first-captain, with his thoughtful decision-making and sense of responsibility being highlighted as key qualities.

The fact that he is held in such high esteem despite his young age shows the quality and the level of maturity Pedri has displayed at just 21 years old.

The young midfield superstar has had to deal with injury issues in the past but admitted to feeling at his best physically this season and his performances at the start of the season have been remarkable.

If he continues on the same trajectory, there is no doubt that Pedri will become the first captain at Barcelona in the future.