Real Madrid is extremely eager to have a midfielder like Pedri!

On a night when Barcelona seemed on the verge of collapse against Levante, Pedri once again proved why he is regarded as the soul of Barca’s midfield by pulling the entire team back from the brink. This confirms one truth: Barcelona is incredibly fortunate to have Pedri in their squad.

Looking at the match statistics, Pedri completed 118 out of 127 accurate passes (93%), created 2 clear goal-scoring chances, scored 1 goal, and contributed nearly 0.5 expected assists (xA). Notably, Pedri’s influence goes beyond numbers. In a game where Barca was stuck, he was the one who dragged the whole team back with quick, direct, and creative plays.

At the 49th minute, Pedri’s sharp long-range shot marked a turning point. It was not just a goal but a morale boost that ignited the entire Barca squad. Shortly after, Ferran Torres equalized, and in stoppage time, the team completed the comeback. Once again, Pedri proved he is not only the “engineer” in midfield but also a true spiritual leader.

In fact, many often praise Lamine Yamal or Raphinha when talking about Barcelona’s freshness. But if you look deeper into the system, Barca simply cannot live without Pedri. He is the link between defense and attack, the player who always keeps the game’s rhythm under control. To put it simply, without Pedri, Barca is like a machine missing its most crucial gear.

Hansi Flick understands this well. It’s no coincidence that in his tactical setup, he always gives Pedri the widest space to maneuver. Pedri possesses Busquets’ composure, Iniesta’s smooth ball control, and the ability to finish chances like an attacking midfielder.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Pedri is currently the best midfielder in the world. With Kevin De Bruyne past his peak, Luka Modric nearing retirement, and Jude Bellingham performing better in advanced roles rather than deep positions, Pedri stands out for his all-around qualities.

He defends solidly, controls the ball excellently, orchestrates attacks smoothly, and most importantly: knows how to score decisive goals. At 22 years old, Pedri plays like an ‘old soul,’ a rare trait among players his age.

The question arises: does Real Madrid desire to have a player like Pedri? The answer is definitely “yes.” They had Modric and Kroos for the past decade, but both are no longer part of Real Madrid. Bellingham is not yet as versatile as expected, Tchouaméni and Camavinga excel mainly defensively, and Valverde remains a box-to-box midfielder. Real Madrid lacks a maestro who controls the game like Pedri.

The victory over Levante might be remembered as an emotional comeback. But more deeply, it proves Pedri’s importance, the one who shoulders the responsibility of reviving Barcelona in tough times. And when experts start asking, “Who is the best midfielder in the world right now?”, the answer is probably very clear.

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