Pedri talks Barcelona success, VAR drama, Joan Garcia, Real Madrid trials | OneFootball

Pedri has once again been called up to the Spanish national team for the upcoming international fixtures against Bulgaria and Turkiye.

Despite his young age, the Barcelona midfielder has become a regular under both Luis Enrique and current manager Luis de la Fuente.

However, he prefers not to see himself as one of the veterans yet. Speaking to Onda Cero, he explained, “I don’t consider myself a veteran yet because I still have a lot to learn.”

Focus on Barcelona

Pedri then went on to highlight what he believes was the main reason behind Barcelona’s strong campaign last season, praising the collective effort within the squad.

“Last year, we all pulled together. We didn’t focus on personal success. We focused on the team’s, and that was the key.”

The midfielder has become a central figure for both club and country, and he continues to show maturity by keeping his focus on the team’s overall goals rather than individual recognition.

VAR drama at Vallecas

During the conversation, Pedri also shared his thoughts on Barcelona’s recent match at Vallecas, where chaos reigned due to technical problems with VAR.

Pedri had trials with Real Madrid. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

He admitted the situation was confusing for players on the pitch. “I didn’t know when there was or wasn’t a VAR.

“At first they said there wasn’t one, halfway through the match there was, then again there wasn’t. We have to improve it so that the competition is much more serious.

“The best thing would have been if it started with or without VAR, it would have ended the same. It’s a bit strange to be in the middle of the match and they tell you now yes, now no.”

Praising Joan Garcia

Pedri also took a moment to praise his Barcelona teammate Joan Garcia, who missed out on the latest Spain squad despite strong performances.

“He’s an incredible goalkeeper; in his first training sessions with us, he impressed me quite a bit. He’s going to help us a lot because he’s a top goalkeeper.”

Finally, the 22-year-old reflected on his footballing inspirations and a moment from his past that many fans remember.

He admitted to admiring legends like Johan Cruyff, Andres Iniesta and David Silva, while also recalling his trial at Real Madrid.

“When I took the test at Valdebebas, it was strange. They told me I wasn’t up to standard, and I went home,” he concluded.