Barcelona midfielder Pedri has opened up about the rivalry with Real Madrid, revealing which player from the enemy camp he would love to bring to the Catalan club.
“Yes, Mbappe” – Barcelona’s Pedri Drops Honest Answer on Stealing Real Madrid Player
In a recent appearance on the Spanish TV program El Hormiguero, the 22-year-old was put on the spot with a tricky question.
Surrounded by his teammate Ferran Torres, Pedri was asked to name one Real Madrid star he would steal for Barcelona.
Without hesitation, the duo exchanged a glance and came to an instant agreement. “Yes, Mbappe,” Pedri confirmed.
The answer comes as little surprise given the French superstar’s global reputation.
While Kylian Mbappe’s move to Madrid last summer initially sent shockwaves through Europe, Pedri admitted that the forward’s quality is undeniable, making him the one player he would love to see swap the white of Madrid for the Blaugrana stripes.
The conversation then shifted to the players Pedri dreads facing most on the pitch. Known for his technical ability rather than his sprinting speed, the Spanish international was honest about his limitations.
“A player I don’t want to face in a speed duel? Almost everyone, I’m a bit slow,” he admitted with a smile.
However, two specific Real Madrid attackers came to mind as the ultimate test. “Mbappe, Vinicius,” Pedri stated.
“Yeah, when the ball reaches Vinicius Junior, all you can do is pray. He runs three times faster than me.”
Pedri knows the threat firsthand. In the first El Clasico of the season, the duo of Vinicius and Mbappe caused Barcelona’s defense endless problems on the counter-attack, a game that ended in frustration for the midfielder.
However, fortunes were reversed in the Spanish Super Cup final, where Barcelona dominated possession and kept Madrid’s speedsters quiet to lift the trophy.
Despite that victory, Pedri’s comments highlight the healthy respect—and fear—that Barcelona’s midfield still holds for the sheer pace of Madrid’s attacking duo.
For the Blaugrana, neutralizing that speed remains the key to winning the biggest battles.
