Pedri Reveals Delight at Failed Real Madrid Trial

Barcelona starlet Pedri has discussed how he once went on trial with rivals Real Madrid, who did not believe he was good enough for a career at the top level.

After signing his first professional contract at just 16 years old, Pedri struck a deal to sign for Barcelona in late 2019, with La Blaugrana paying €5m to seal his arrival at Camp Nou this summer.

Still just 17 years old, Pedri is a regular in Ronald Koeman's first team. He has made ten appearances so far across both La Liga and the Champions League, and he has managed to find the back of the net in each.

Officials at Camp Nou are adamant they have found a future star, but Pedri confessed to Cadena SER that Real Madrid were not as convinced when he joined them for a trial earlier in his career.

"I was on trial for a week in Madrid, they told me I wasn't good enough," Pedri admitted. "They took me to an office and they told me, and I was a bit pissed off, but it served to keep me working and improving.

"Thanks to them for not signing me, because now I'm at the team I always wanted to be at. Since I was little I've always been a Barca fan. This is where I want to be."

Pedri soon went on to talk about his love of playing alongside childhood hero Lionel Messi, who almost left Camp Nou during the summer before the 17-year-old even arrived.

"You never get used to seeing the moves Messi makes," he confessed. "Not just Messi, everyone in the team surprise you. To be able to learn from them is a luxury.

"To see the things Messi does... he does what he wants, when he wants to. You see him on TV and on the PlayStation and then to see him in real life, it really makes an impression. To play with Messi is a prize that life has given me."

Pedri has started three of his side's last four league games, and with fellow wonderkid Ansu Fati sidelined for the next few months with a knee injury, Koeman will likely continue to turn to Pedri for the foreseeable future.

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