Pedri talks Messi, Bellingham, Pique, Xavi, Roque, Aleix Garcia: “As long as he is at Barcelona…”

Injuries and finishing problems have been Barcelona’s biggest headaches of the season, and while there is hope that the latter will improve as the season goes on, the former have been too concerning, especially for some players.

Pedri, for example, picked up his second injury of the season before the Christmas break, and is only expected to be back after the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“I’m going through a difficult time but I’m fine,” he said about his injury concerns in an interview with Twitch streamer Ibai Llanos.

“It hurts me when some people say that my lifestyle is the cause of my injuries. I am a person who does not go out, I do not like parties and staying up late at all, and I love training. I just want to play football.”

He also took this time to call out Gerard Romero, who reported that Pedri was ‘afraid’ to play and shoot with his right foot.

“I’ve been annoyed by a lot of things the media has been saying about me and my injury…. Gerard Romero said that I was afraid to play and shoot with my right foot and that I told Xavi. That is a lie!”

“I don’t know when I will be back. I don’t have a return date.”

On his current teammates: Ferran, Gavi, Roque

He also took the time to talk about Ferran Torres and Gavi, saying, “Ferran is always with me. Now he is with the shark mentality. He supports me a lot.”

“Ferran is a shark. He takes the shark mentality very seriously. One day I gave him a pair of shark flip-flops and he wears them in the locker room.”

“I’m helping Gavi because I know what it’s like to be injured for a long time. He is better now. But I’m helping him on a daily basis.”

Pedri also showed support to his coach Xavi. A lot of doubts have been raised over his continuity due to Barcelona’s form.

“As long as Xavi is at Barcelona, we trust him. We are with him,” he said.

Ibai also took the time to ask the Spaniard about new arrival Vitor Roque, who has arrived at the club this month, and is expected to make his debut soon.

“Vitor Roque is always happy. Whenever I’ve seen him in the dressing room he’s always smiling.”

On former teammates: Messi, Pique

It is also tradition at this point for Pedri to talk about Lionel Messi in every interview. The Argentine evidently had a lasting impact on the midfielder despite them only playing one season together.

“Messi is the best player in history. I used to watch him training and say, ‘What am I doing here with him’. And I would stare at him all the time.”

“When I arrived at Barça the first person I saw in the dressing room was Messi. He had that aura,” he added.

Another player that got name-checked was Gerard Pique. The Spaniard retired mid-way through last season, but did enough over a decade and a half to cement himself as one of the best centre-backs in the history of the club.

“Piqué was not enthusiastic in training, but in matches he was amazing… I could dribble past him 7-8 times during training [laughs].”

On rivals: Bellingham, Aleix Garcia

Pedri was also asked about rival players, such as Jude Bellingham and Aleix Garcia. Both players are on 45 points with their clubs, Real Madrid and Girona, and have been the best player for their teams, respectively.

“Bellingham has surprised me a lot. He is in a form where every shot he takes ends in a goal,” Pedri said about the Englishman.

As for Garcia, who Barcelona have been strongly linked to for the January transfer window, he said, “I like Aleix Garcia a lot.”