Before becoming one of the executives of FC Barcelona, Pedri could have experienced a completely different trajectory. In a long testimony given to The Players’ Tribunethe 23-year-old Spanish midfielder looked back on the trial he made at Real Madrid when he was still a teenager. Having left for the capital with his father, the Canarian had experienced a difficult week, isolated in a hotel while the other young people from the academy lived together and took their courses. The adventure finally ended with a refusal from the Madrid club. “ After a week, they sent me home. It just wasn’t for me. Honestly, it put my feet back on the ground. It’s not nice to go home and see your friends when everyone knows it didn’t work out “, says the Spanish world champion.
A failure that ultimately became a particularly tasty anecdote with regard to the rest of his career. Pedri grew up in a family deeply attached to Barça, his grandfather having notably managed one of the main Blaugrana supporters’ clubs in the Canary Islands. On his return from Madrid, those close to him did not fail to joke about his failed attempt: “ Don’t worry, your grandfather would never have let you play for Real Madrid. He must have been praying, and God made it snow that day! » A few years later, Pedri finally realized the family dream by joining FC Barcelona, becoming one of the major players of the Catalan club.
