Paul Scholes Says He’s Got a ‘New Favourite Footballer’ After Watching Newcastle vs Barcelona

Paul Scholes has got a new favourite player after tuning into Barcelona's 2-1 win over Newcastle United – and he won't be the only one.

Marcus Rashford netted a second-half brace on Thursday night as Hansi Flick's side secured a hard-fought three points in their Champions League opener.

Given the amount of coverage his season-long loan move from Manchester United had this summer, Rashford's Player of the Match performance was naturally the big talking point.

But a midfield masterclass from Pedri deserves some plaudits. The 22-year-old was at his scintillating best against Newcastle, showcasing his elite decision-making and passing ability throughout.

In total, he completed 84 out of 92 passes and was dispossessed a grand total of zero times – a display that was hailed by many Newcastle supporters who attended the game at St James' Park.

One fan wrote on social media: "Pedri is easily the best footballer I’ve ever seen live. Makes everything look so easy and effortless. Stupid player," while another commented: "Pedri might be the best player I’ve ever seen live."

The former Las Palmas man also has an admirer in Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who is widely regarded as one of the Premier League's greatest midfielders.

Taking to his Instagram story during Thursday's contest, he posted a picture of the Spain international alongside a caption that read: "My new favourite footballer [love heart emoji]".

If you happened to miss Pedri's masterclass on Tyneside, then here's a two-minute compilation of his performance against Eddie Howe's side. Sit back and enjoy.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was also full of praise for Pedri and his midfield partner Frenkie de Jong.

"With Pedri and Frenkie, it’s not easy to put pressure on us," said Flick in his post-match interview. "I think they both played a very good game today. I’m happy that they’re playing with that confidence on this pitch."

He added: "We’re a very young team. What I can see is that the team is playing with confidence, and that’s very important."

Thoughts on Pedri's performance against Newcastle? Let us know in the comments.