There has been no shortage of statements in Spain this season that Pedri is currently perhaps the best midfielder in the world and this season reaches an exceptional level with his fitness in the track again. In a sense, he is very much in his own competition this season.
This year, the 22-year-old seems to have left his persistent injuries behind him and the heartbeat has been on the part of Hansi Flick from the very first game they played. While Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Fermin Lopez have come in and out of the side in recent months, Pedri is the constant in midfield for Barcelona.
On Wednesday evening, when Barcelona found a road past Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, Pedri received a rare honor. With his name around in the Metropolitano, it seemed to be sung by both sets of fans. It is certainly a tribute reserved for a select number, and the only time it happened this season.
Undoubtedly partly that is due to his exploits with Spain. The Canary Islander has converted the winning penalty in an explicit way against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the Nations League just over two weeks ago. He himself admitted after the game that he never enjoyed as much football as he does now, and that it is the best he has played.
This season he has played 45 times for Barcelona, scored five times and gives seven assists. Songs do little to illustrate what he does for a Barcelona side that trusts him to direct matters in the middle of the field and to determine the pace. That does not mean that he has not been solidly solid and has an impressive talent for robbing opponents of possession.
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