Pedri Reveals How He Nearly Joined Barcelona's Bitter Rivals Real Madrid
Barcelona's midfield maestro Pedri has once again reflected on his rejection by Real Madrid, where the Madrid-based club made a costly error in judgment by deeming him insufficient for their academy.
The Canary Islands native departed his homeland in 2018 to advance his budding football journey. At just 15 years old, he underwent trials with Real Madrid, but Los Blancos chose not to pursue him.
The promising youngster was subsequently recruited by Las Palmas on the adjacent island of Gran Canaria, before Barcelona secured a deal worth an initial €5 million ($5.8 million), taking effect from July 2020.
At age 16, approaching 17, Pedri featured in 52 matches during his debut campaign and is set to achieve 300 career appearances across club and international football sometime in the 2025–26 season.
"During my trial at Valdebebas, it felt peculiar," Pedri shared with Onda Cero while recounting his unsuccessful attempt to join Real Madrid. "They informed me that I didn't meet their standards and I returned home."
This isn't the initial occasion that Pedri has spoken about that pivotal moment.
In 2022, he revealed to Cadena COPE: "I arrived at Valdebebas and couldn't practice initially because snow covered the training grounds. I managed to train for three days. I believe they had a match scheduled and relegated me to practice with the reserve team, and ultimately, they informed me I wasn't suitable for their setup and would continue monitoring my progress."
He continued: "Today I'm exactly where I aspire to be. Initially, rejection stings regardless of the source, but it subsequently drives you to prove that if they didn't value you, you'll dedicate yourself to ensuring better opportunities arise. I can't recall who specifically rejected me, [but] if I encountered them, I'd mention how much I'm thriving at Barcelona currently."
Pedri, who claimed the Kopa Trophy in 2021, has developed into one of football's premier midfielders. He was instrumental in Barcelona's domestic treble last season, making 37 La Liga appearances under Hansi Flick's guidance.