October 14, 2022, 8:46 AM
October 14, 2022, 8:46 AM
Veteran Sergio Busquets continues to focus Barcelona’s game, but at his side Pedro González ‘Pedri’ and Pablo Páez Gavira ‘Gavi’ grow to take the Barça engine room against Real Madrid in Sunday’s classic league game.
The two young canteranos of the Masía they have kicked down the door of the team in just three years, since Pedri will debut in the 2019/2020 season and his partner did it last season.
In a short space of time, both have settled as essential elements in the scheme of coach Xavi Hernández, who is full of praise for them.
“It gives us intensity and rhythm of the game, it is a wonder. He understands coverage, recovers the ball, launches the pressure… At a spectacular level at 18 years old”, Xavi had affirmed about Gavi, who had just turned 18.
“I have not seen in the world a player with as much talent as Pedri, He reminds me a lot of Iniesta, in terms of talent he is the best player in the world”, assured the Barça coach about Pedri.
– ‘I have to be Pedri’ –
The young Barcelona midfielder, Olympic silver medal with Spain in 2021willingly accepts the comparison with the legend of Barça and the world champion Roja, but distances himself.
“It’s good to be compared to those people, but I have to be Pedri and pursue my career,” assured the 19-year-old midfielder from the Canary Islands.
With Busquets as a reference, Pedri brings precision, vision and calm to the game, while Gavi mixes his technique with self-confidence and passion when looking at the opposing goal.
“I am a technical player, agile and with arrival”, Gavi himself was defined, whose combativeness on the pitch stands out.
Present and future of Barça, The Barça team has been in charge of shielding its two pearls, after renewing both until 2026 with an astronomical termination clause of 1,000 million euros (973.3 million dollars).
Keys with the Barcelona team, the two friends already have his position in the Redwith which both should be in the World Cup in Qatar in November.
“Playing with Xavi and Iniesta was a privilege for me and now I can see the growth of Pedri and Gavi,” said international midfielder Jorge Resurrection ‘Koke’ in June.
– Praise of Luis Enrique –
Both Gavi, who jumped to the absolute without going through the U-21, like Pedri they have already made their place in the team of coach Luis Enrique Martínez, who has never been afraid to give alternatives to young people.
“I don’t look at the identity card”Lucho often recalls, who has also been full of praise for his young players.
Gavi, the youngest rookie with the Red“not only does he run, he is very dangerous with the ball. It’s a pure interior and it has a goal, you’ll see it in the future”, said Luis Enrique, for whom Pedri “has a style like Iniesta, who seems to be dancing and doing unique things”.
The two served as a shock on September 28 in the League of Nations match against Portugal as a visitor, which Spain ended up winning over the bell with a goal from Álvaro Morata 1-0 to get into the final of this continental tournament.
On Sunday they will try to do their magic so that Barça can leave the Santiago Bernabéu winner and solo league leader in LaLiga.
