“Barça wanted to give up Pedri, but I opposed it with two training sessions”

Pedro Gonzalez Pedri’ has always been very grateful to Ronald Koeman for having bet on him when the Canarian midfielder came to the FC Barcelona coming from the UD Las Palmas in the summer of 2020. Two years later, without Koeman on the Camp Nou bench, the 19-year-old is one of the benchmarks in the Barça squad. The Dutch coach spoke about his determination regarding Pedri during the ‘AK Coaches World’. “The club wanted to loan Pedri out, but two training sessions were enough to say that he had to stay,” Koeman recalled.

“When I arrived, everyone was talking about Pedri but I didn’t know him. In the first two training sessions I understood that he would be a great player. The club thought of lending it. I objected, I knew who was going to play, ”he stressed. “I never thought about myself, I always did things for Barça. In the end, in the world you have people for and against”, reflected the coach.

When Barça decided to do without Koeman last November, Pedri dedicated a few words of thanks to the coach, who has once again taken charge of the Dutch team. “I’m sorry that things didn’t go the way we wanted, mister. Thank you for giving me your trust from the first moment and for the opportunity to fulfill my dream at FC Barcelona. I wished you the best both personally and professionally”, Pedri underlined Koeman at the time .

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