Pedri: The gem Madrid let slip away
Did you know Pedri was on the verge of signing for Real Madrid? It’s true—and they turned him down. Let me tell you the full story, because it’s one of those that makes us love Barça even more.
In
February 2018, just
15 years old, Pedri traveled from Tenerife to Valdebebas to take part in a trial with Madrid’s youth academy. At the time, he played for Juventud Laguna and was already showing serious promise. Despite a negative report from a local scout, the club invited him to train.
But during those days, Madrid was hit by heavy snow. He only managed to train for
three days, and was sent to train with the B team. In the end, they told him he
“didn’t have the level.” Just like that.
Pedri has spoken about it with humility and pride:
“They told me I wasn’t good enough. I thank the person who said I didn’t have the level, because now I’m at the club I’ve always loved.”
And it’s true—his heart was always blaugrana. His grandfather even founded a Barça fan club in Tenerife, and Pedri never felt comfortable wearing the white shirt.
After that rejection, he signed for
UD Las Palmas, where he quickly stood out. In 2019,
Barça signed him for €5 million, and the rest is history: a key starter, Golden Boy winner, Spanish international… and a culé through and through.
So yes—Madrid had him in their hands… and let him go. We welcomed him, nurtured him, and today he’s one of our own.
