Pedri Finally Speaks Out After Shocking Ballon d'Or Snub: "Most Important Thing"
Barcelona's midfield maestro Pedri has emphasized that he treasures fan support over any accolades from the Ballon d'Or ceremony, despite numerous prominent figures in football expressing frustration about his ranking.
Although Pedri guided Barcelona to a complete domestic trophy haul last season through consistently brilliant midfield displays, the talented playmaker failed to secure a spot in this year's Ballon d'Or top 10. The 22-year-old creative force finishing in 11th position, trailing both Paris Saint-Germain defenders and Chelsea's unpredictable star Cole Palmer, caught many observers off guard. However, Pedri remained unbothered by the outcome.
"I feel appreciated at my club and with the national squad. That matters most to me. The supporters' love is what I treasure," he shared with reporters recently.
Others weren't as accepting of the result. Following her historic third consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin triumph, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí immediately highlighted her teammate's situation: "We must discuss Pedri more frequently."
Pedri found Bonmatí's remarks more difficult to dismiss than France Football's assessment. "When she speaks, we must pay attention, given her three Ballon d'Or victories. It couldn't be more perfect," he expressed enthusiastically.
Barcelona's 'Harry Potter' Seeks Redemption
Similar to Bonmatí, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique holds great admiration for the petite midfielder who controls Barcelona's tempo. "I previously described Pedri as Harry Potter, and I'm hoping tomorrow he leaves his magical abilities at home," the Spanish tactician smiled ahead of Wednesday's Champions League encounter between PSG and Barcelona. "We'll attempt everything possible to limit his involvement."
Pedri approaches this match with extra determination. The Catalan club missed out on a Champions League final showdown with PSG last season despite holding a 6–5 aggregate advantage over Inter in the dying moments of a thrilling semifinal.
"Everyone supporting Barcelona came so close to advancing," Pedri reflected. "It was a challenging encounter, and we're eager for payback. Moving forward, you always want to address unfinished business. This represents one of football's premier fixtures and the type of match every player dreams of participating in."