Pedri accuses Germany player of showing 'lack of respect' ahead of Euro 2024 quarter-final game

Pedri has accused defender Antonio Rudiger of showing a "lack of respect" ahead of Friday's quarter-final clash between Spain and Germany.

The 21-year-old midfielder, who has played a key role for Luis de la Fuente's side this summer, has commented publicly on Rudiger and his 'pinching' tactics during games.

On numerous occasions over the past year or so, the Real Madrid defender has used the painful distraction technique.

Back in January, he was spotted pinching Alvaro Morata's nipple during Los Blancos' dramatic 5-3 win over Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

And three months later, Rudiger was caught pinching Jack Grealish in the chest when Madrid came up against Manchester City in the first leg of April's Champions League quarter-final.

With those incidents in mind, Pedri was asked to give his thoughts on Rudiger ahead of Friday's much-anticipated quarter-final clash against Germany.

“Rudiger is a very strong and a great defender, but we are not afraid of him," the Barcelona midfielder told Marca. "Him pinching seems like a lack of respect because it hurts and it’s annoying."

Rudiger, meanwhile, has described the quarter-final clash against Spain as a "classic" before mentioning Jamal Musiala as someone who can make the difference for Germany.

“It’s a big and important game, a classic, I’m just looking forward to it," Rudiger told Kicker.

"For me, the two best teams in the tournament so far will face each other. I see a game on an equal footing. We have to be ready for the fight.

“We have to have the courage to go forward, because they are also vulnerable. They press high, you can get past that. But in order to do that, we have to have good possession of the ball and be calm in pressure situations. And we can’t make any mistakes.”

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He added: "We as a team have to make sure he can be free, because he’s a difference maker. But Jamal is still very young. If you give players like him the sole responsibility, it can be too much for them. That’s why it’s important that the rest of us fulfill our tasks and enable him to have this freedom."