The eccentric normality of Pedri

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At the last Ballon d'Or gala, the Barcelona delegation landed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris with two prizes in their pockets: Alexia Putellas would become the second Spanish footballer (man and woman) to win football's most glamorous award and Pedri took over from Mbappé and De Ligt in the Kopa trophy. From the minivan that was carrying the Barça group, Pedri got off the last one. A little stunned, still uncomfortable under the flashes, as if walking down the red carpet had nothing to do with him. “It was all backwards. The directors of Barça looked like footballers and Alexia and Pedri seemed like directors, serious and prudent”, says one of those present at the celebration in Paris. He smiled, yes, when he came across Messi - they chatted for a few minutes and he introduced him to his family - and, of course,when they presented him with the trophy.

When he returned to Barcelona, ​​he forgot Paris. At least, facing the gallery. A countercultural attitude of the Canarian soccer player, who in social networks has a behavior that is even too institutional, training photos, matches and advertisements; Few personal. "He did not hesitate to any colleague and commented little on what he had experienced at the gala," explains a Barcelona employee. Those who know Pedri are not even surprised. The day that Luis Enrique called him to summon him to the senior team, the azulgrana was with his family. “Are you happy?” they shouted at him. He just replied: “Yes”. “The normality that this kid has is amazing,” sources explain the environment of the canary. A normality that seems hereditary. His parents keep their usual job, the family tavern; his brother, a cook by profession,It is your ground wire in Barcelona.

And the relationship between the two of them remains intact, as if the minor was not the sensation of the Spanish team and Barcelona. Although there is no doubt about who cooks at home, Pedri, from time to time, reminds him that he misses his mother's croquettes. Culés raised in Tenerife, when the obligations at the Camp Nou allow it, the González brothers go for a walk through the Johan Cruyff and the Palau. They never miss if their parents are visiting. "Now that we are here we have to take advantage of it," they say.

But Pedri's eccentric normality disappears when he takes to the field, as he is expected to do today against Athletic in San Mamés in the Cup (DAZN and Telecinco, 9:30 p.m.). The Canarian reappeared in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid after 109 days off, 102 due to a muscle problem to which he had to add seven more due to covid. “The injury lasted longer than he expected. He took it rather calmly. He took advantage of the time to add muscle mass ”, they say from the footballer’s environment. Last season, with Ronald Koeman on the bench, Pedri worked extra hours in the gym when the schedule allowed. I work with pulleys and strength exercises, especially to strengthen the upper body. This year, during the injury, he accelerated the bodybuilding process. “Our ideasaving the distances, is that he can have a physique more similar to Messi's than to Goretzka's, ”say people close to the canary. Pedri gained four kilos, to which he also added more power for the auction and strength to withstand the shocks.

“The change has been noticed.

He has ceased to have the body of a child, ”add the same sources.

What hasn't changed is his way of playing.

“Pedri is a fundamental piece for us”, praises Xavi Hernández.

This season, Barcelona was excited by the star appearance of Nico (20 years old) and Gavi (17), until he remembered why the world of football exalted Pedri's football (19).

The Canarian has played 57 games with the first team to Gavi's 24 and Nico's 23.

But while the two Barça youth players have an average of 33 passes per game (26 in the opposite half) and 34 (24), respectively, Pedri has 46 (34).

A magnetism with essential leather for the Barça game.

A special boy, but only on the lawn.

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