Pedri González, na 23 years old midfielder wey dey play for Barcelona and Spain national team, don yarn about di upcoming World Cup and how e compare to di 2010 generation wey win di trophy. For interview, Pedri hold ball for im leg through di whole talk, e show say e don mature from di shy boy wey first enter scene.
E say: “Until we win World Cup, like dem do for 2010, e go hard to compare us. But di game don change, today teams dey more tactical and prepared. Xavi, Iniesta, and Busi play style wey never see before, but we dey grow with different challenge.”
Pedri say im position don shift under coach Luis de la Fuente, wey see am as attacking midfielder before. Now e dey play deeper for Barcelona, and e feel comfortable there. “I fit do both roles, but right now I prefer to play behind,” e tok.
About Spain’s midfield talent, Pedri credit di Spanish style wey focus on ball possession. “Everybody for this generation grow up watching Xavi, Iniesta, Busi. We try to copy dem, and dat na why we get so many quality midfielders like Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Merino, and Zubimendi.”
Pedri talk about di confidence inside di squad after winning Euro 2024 and Nations League. “We know we fit win World Cup, but e no go easy. Di team don change from Qatar 2022 – now we get wingers like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams wey fit beat man one-on-one. Dat na difference.”
E praise Lamine Yamal as “born for big moments, when di yam dey burn, e go carry ball.” Pedri add say di team no get that kind of player for Qatar. But e refuse to speculate if dem for beat Morocco if dem get am.
For di World Cup favourites, Pedri pick Argentina, France, and Portugal. “Argentina get best player for di world, until Messi retire, e go remain number one. I train with am and never see anything like am. Portugal get strong midfield and Cristiano wey fit score anyhow. France get crazy attackers and solid defence.”
Pedri say di team don accept di favourite tag because dem earn am. “If dem call you favourite, na because you deserve am. Why we no go accept? But we know e no be smooth road.”
E talk about di potential disappointment if dem no win: “If you fail, na wetin dey happen. You must give everything and if you lose, at least you try.”
Pedri also yarn say e don become more open and confident off di pitch, but e no be di type to give locker room speech. “If I see something for game, I go tell di person wey dey dat area. But I no go force speech, e go come natural.”
Di midfielder say e feel recognised outside Spain, but dem wey no watch La Liga no fit judge. “Dem go say if your name be Pedrinho, you go cost more. But di people wey watch know di level.”
Pedri compare im partnership with Frenkie de Jong for Barcelona to di one with Rodri for Spain. “Rodri and Zubimendi dey more positional, dem stay for middle. Frenkie dey go forward more, enter area. Each different, I dey adapt to wetin coach want.”
E mention say di team fit play different ways if Lamine or Nico no fit start against Cape Verde. “We get Baena wey fit play inside, Ferran Torres wey fit stay wide. We get squad wey fit do anything.”
Pedri no know much about Cape Verde yet: “We no watch video, but when we do, I go know more.”
Di interview show Pedri as mature leader, wey dey balance confidence and humility. E dey focus on di present without ignoring di past greats.
