The crown might slip down over his forehead but at a club the size of Barcelona there always has to be somebody sat on the throne and Pedri – not 19 until November – is the best fit to lead the club into the post-Lionel Messi era. He has that same impish spark that Messi had when he first played for Barcelona. Terry Venables once described Messi as Oliver Twist picking everyone's pocket; Pedri also looks like part of Fagin's gang. he asked Barcelona coaches in pre-season before immediately cancelling the club's plans to loan Pedri out at the start of last season. And what Barcelona as a football club need right now is someone to get excited about; someone to build a new team around.

Source: The Nation August 14, 2021 13:07 UTC