Sports Writing, 24 Mar Pedri will premiere number 10 in the Spanish national team against Albania and Iceland, a number of great legends in football history, but not the one he wants to wear in the future. He wants the 8 with which his idol, Andrés Iniesta, scored the most important goal of the Red at the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg. “They gave me a choice and 10 is a number that I like, which has led important people like Cesc Fabregas, who is a spectacular player, and I chose him because of that. The number I like the most is 8 because Andrés Iniesta wore it and I always liked it since childhood, but here it is worn by Koke and you have to respect veteran life”, he revealed in an interview at Cope. The footballer who has become a benchmark for Barcelona and the Spanish national team when he was just 19 years old, remembered the chapter of his test at Real Madrid, when he was ruled out by the Madrid team. “I don't remember who rejected me, if I see him I would tell him that I'm enjoying myself at Barcelona now,” he said. “I went there and the first few days I couldn't train because there was snow on the fields. I trained for three days. I think they played and they took me down with the B to train and in the end they told me that I didn't have the level to be there and that they were going to keep looking at me. Now I'm where I want to be. At first you don't like being rejected anywhere, but then it motivates you to work that something else may come in the future,” he added. Pedri enjoyed 0-4 to the fullest in the classic, a match that he has seen again in full. “It was an unforgettable match.” He defended the celebration held by his club, both players in the dressing room and president, board of directors and Xavi with his photo on the pitch at the end of the match. “I understand on the one hand that they say it was exaggerated but on the other hand not because I think they would have done the same. When you win 4-0 to the direct rival you are going to celebrate it like this because you get immense joy”, he argued. The reunion with a madridista like Dani Carvajal in the national team has left no memory of the recent match. “We are now in the national team and we are all a team. Here we look the same and laugh the same way. We don't hesitate with that. We are a team and we want to win together.” At the concentration of the Spanish national team in the Ciudad del Fútbol, the giant screen installed next to the training ground at the request of Luis Enrique has attracted attention. “It's crazy,” said Pedri after working with her for the first time. “Unai told me that the screen was there and I hadn't seen it because we hadn't used it. We've already done it and it's a great thing because you're wrong about something and they show it to you on the screen. It helps to improve.” Pedri acknowledged that all the money he earns is managed by his parents, with whom he shares it and wants to give them a new home. “My parents wear it and it's theirs too. The first thing I bought was the Play Station 5 when it came out. Now what I want to do is buy a house for my parents or renovate the one we have.” CHIEF RMM/OG
Read more!