Pedri praised Lamine Yamal, comparing the young talent to Lionel Messi, saying he brings the same sense of great expectation as the legend did for Barca.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri has made headlines after comparing young talent Lamine Yamal to the legendary Lionel Messi in an interview with SPORT. The 22-year-old, who has been at the heart of Barca’s play this season, did not hesitate to express his admiration for the potential of Yamal, a 17-year-old who is exploding in La Liga and the Champions League.

In the interview, when asked about Yamal, Pedri shared: “When Lamine has the ball, you know he will easily pass the first opponent… and then something can happen. This feeling is similar to when we have Messi in the squad”.

This comparison not only emphasizes the great expectations Pedri has placed on Yamal, but also recalls the peak period of Messi, who led Barca to countless titles. Yamal, with his speed, technique and ability to create breakthroughs, is considered Messi’s “successor” at Camp Nou.

Pedri also spoke about his impressive form after overcoming a difficult period of injury. He said he had changed his diet and training regime to regain consistency, and felt most comfortable in his current deep-lying playmaker role. Despite being compared to Andres Iniesta, Pedri modestly said that it was difficult to reach the legend’s level.

Regarding the upcoming match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Pedri said that this is a difficult challenge despite Barca’s good form. He also expressed his desire to win collective titles rather than compete for the Ballon d’Or, although he admitted that this award is the dream of every player. With Yamal and Pedri, Barca owns precious gems for the future.