Pedri says he was “shocked” when he saw Messi for the first time

In the midst of a congested yet thrilling season, Barcelona starlet Pedri sat down for an interview with Club del Deportista. In it, he spoke about his first season at Barça, life as an 18-year old, being called up to the Spanish national team, and meeting Messi for the first time.

Pedri arrived at the Camp Nou last summer from second-division side Las Palmas. He was a rather under-the-radar signing and was almost loaned out at one point, but he has risen to be one of the first names on the team sheet and a crucial player.

It’s been a meteoric rise to stardom for the 18-year old, and he said, “The truth is, I didn’t expect it at all. I was lucky enough to get minutes at Las Palmas, but I came to a big club as Barcelona…and well, I was thinking about doing the preseason, and see if I could stay and keep working, so I could have as many minutes as possible. But what I’m living now, for myself, is a surprise”

Seeing Messi is heart-stopping for anyone, especially someone who has watched him for years. Pedri said, “The first day I saw him, I thought it was a lie. When I was next to Messi, I was very shocked.”

The two have developed a great partnership on the pitch, and Pedri spoke about playing with him and whether it is difficult, “It’s easy because when you give him the ball, you know things are going to happen. And that’s what I’m trying to do, giving it to him in the best condition possible to make the most for the team”

On the pitch, Pedri plays beyond his years. He responded to a question about whether he is prepared for everything despite his young age, “Yes, I’m lucky that I’m always with my family very close and they always continuously remind me that I have to be cool-headed. Being humble and as well as with them around, I’m prepared for everything.”

Furthermore, he is extremely versatile and can play in a variety of attacking roles. When asked about his favorite position, Pedri said, “The position where I like to play the most is in the center. Being behind the striker, being able to give that final pass that I love so much, that’s the position I’d choose. But I’m here for whatever the coach says and to play in whatever position he says.”

Pedri was also asked about the state of the squad and, of course, Messi’s transfer saga. On whether he’d like Messi to continue at the club, he stated, “Yes, I hope I can be around him for many more years. It would be great if you could enjoy Messi and learn a lot of things by his side.”

In terms of whether Barcelona need fresh faces, he said, “Well, I think Barça already has idols like Messi, Piqué or many more & the young players that are starting out, like Ansu Fati, Riqui or myself, have a great level to play in the first team.”

It has been a crazy last few weeks for Pedri and the team, and he was asked if Barça’s incredible comeback in the second-leg against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey was his favorite game yet, “When I left Seville with a possible injury, I thought I couldn’t play that game and then being lucky enough to recover so quickly and live it that way was a wonderful thing.”

Perhaps most notably of all, Pedri was recently called up to the Spanish National team for the first time. In response, he said, “Well, for me it’s a prize, which I face with a lot of desire and enthusiasm.”

Pedri has emerged as a genuine star, one who is incredibly talented yet extremely humble. Hopefully, he will represent Spain and Barcelona for years to come.