Barcelona Star Pedri Idolised Andres Iniesta To The Extreme, Wanted To Go Bald To Be Like Him

Barcelona sensation Pedri has revealed he idolised Andres Iniesta so much he asked to get the same haircut.

The 18-year-old, already a regular for Barca and Spain, has frequently been compared to the legendary midfielder after producing a series of scintillating performances.

It's easy to see a bit of Iniesta in the way Pedri carries the ball and his eye for a killer pass. Barca's current midfield metronome worshipped Iniesta growing up and wanted to look like him.

But his father was not having his son look bald and so wouldn't let him replicate Iniesta's hairstyle.

"I was at the barbers with my father and there was a Barca match on the TV," Pedri recalled in an interview.

"I asked the barber to give me Andres Iniesta’s haircut because he is my idol. My dad said no we can’t do that because Iniesta is bald.”

Pedri would have been just seven when Iniesta scored the goal that won the World Cup for Spain against Netherlands in 2010 and he has always named the Vissel Kobe man as his footballing hero.

Iniesta gave Pedri a message of support when he signed for Barcelona from Las Palmas in a €5 million switch last year and has heaped praise on the Tenerife native.

"It is clear that Pedri has a lot of potential," Iniesta said, as per Mundo Deportivo.

"I believe that he is in an ideal place to continue developing, to continue expanding his ability. I wish him the best and the important thing is that he is calm, that people also leave him alone, because he is young and has everything ahead of him.

“I am sure that if he does things the way he is doing them that he will continue to shine. I think the difference is that he is when he goes out on the pitch, he enjoys the ball and he doesn’t look like he’s 18! Therefore, the important thing is that he continues to grow, because he sure has a great future at Barça.”

Pedri ended up playing a ridiculous 52 games in his first season at Barca and then starred at Euro 2020 during Spain's run to the semi-finals, before representing La Roja in the Olympic football tournament to end up on 73 appearances for the campaign.

A key part of the future for Barca along with Ansu Fati and Gavi, Pedri signed a new deal containing a record €1 billion release clause last month.

Featured Image Credit: Image: PA

Topics: Pedri, Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Spain

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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