Marcus Chan
Barcelona star Pedri dominated the match against Elche as he produced a flawless display in the middle of the park for Xavi’s side.
19-year-old Pedri moved from Las Palmas to Barcelona back in 2020 and has since established himself as one of the best young players in world football.
The Spanish midfielder was awarded the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2021 and is regarded as one of the best talents of the generation.
Now wearing the famous number eight shirt at the Camp Nou, Pedri has moved up another level this season.
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During the Catalan giants’ 3-0 win over Elche on Saturday afternoon, Pedri was in fine form as he bossed the game from start to finish. You can watch his stunning highlights below.
The Spaniard showed great composure on the ball as he effortlessly picked out passes to his teammates.
His performance deserved a goal but his strike on the 44th minute was ruled out by VAR.
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Nevertheless, it was yet another commanding performance from the young midfielder.
After the match, Xavi praised Pedri’s performance.
He told Marca: “He is a superlative footballer: he understands the game, he makes the difference with passes, he doesn’t lose the ball… He is decisive. He is one the best that has come through here. He is a guarantee.
“We have to take care of him. We are managing the squad well. Whoever plays, it doesn’t stand out. He is a superlative footballer.”
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Pedri is likely to be a mainstay in Barcelona’s midfield for years to come, alongside him will likely be another rising star, in the shape of 18-year-old Pablo Gavi.
Gavi was a graduated from Barcelona’s world famous academy, La Masia. Since he made his first team debut in 2021, he has proved to be an important player for both club and country.
To date, he has 10 caps for Spain, manager Luis Enrique described Gavi as an ‘erupting volcano’.
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He said: “He’s like an erupting volcano.
“It’s very difficult not to fall in love with Gavi. Any fan wants to see him play.”
Gavi signed a new contract last week that will keep him at the Camp Nou until at least 2026. The contract is believed to have a release clause of €1 billion (£866m).
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Barcelona’s next match will be an away trip to face Mallorca in La Liga after the international break.