Lamine Yamal’s attacking talent has led the young Barcelona forward to be compared not only to great and famous players, but also to his own teammates.
Now, former Arsenal and Spain international Santi Cazorla has caused controversy by revealing why he prefers Pedri Gonzlez, one of Rose’s midfield stars, over Lamine.
Cazorla prefers Pedri to Yamal
The two-time European champions had already expressed their admiration for the 23-year-old midfielder after he was left speechless by coach Pedri following his team’s 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Real Oviedo in September. After the game, he shared a post on Instagram asking, “Give me your shirt, genius?”
The gesture was a prelude to his recent comments to Sport, in which Cazorla, asked about his praise for Gonzlez and his curious request on Instagram, began by saying: “He is already one of the best players in the world at his age. He is a different kind of player and we all enjoy it every time he plays.”
“I think Barcelona will be really lonely without Pedri. They have some great players in that position, but I think Pedri gives the team a different atmosphere and above all he looks like a very down-to-earth, very ordinary guy and I like that very much. I think the more ordinary the better the player. I admire Pedri a lot, that’s why I asked for his shirt,” the 41-year-old revealed.
Since his debut with Bala, Pedri has emerged as one of the most progressive and critical passing midfielders in Europe’s top leagues and national teams. This season he has played 30 games in the Blaugrana shirt, scoring two goals and providing 10 assists, and is one of the team’s undisputed leaders.
Another player who definitely caught everyone’s attention is teammate Ramin Yamal. The young forward has established himself as a valuable asset in Hansi Flick’s side, scoring 46 goals and providing 50 assists in 146 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona.
However, although Cazorla did not deny his talent, there are other reasons why he admires him and leans towards Pedri.
“Well, it’s because of the position he plays. It’s the position I’ve always played. I love watching Lamine. He’s a unique and exceptional player in that position, but I’ve played a little bit in Pedri’s position, so I admire him a little bit more for that reason rather than in other positions.”
Santi Cazorla also revealed that Lamine and Pedri’s clubs “always appealed to him, but it never worked out” throughout his career.
In the meantime, Gonzlez and Yamal will continue to be busy. Following their first friendly against Serbia (3-0), the Spanish national team will face Egypt at the RCDE Stadium on Tuesday the 31st.
Together with Barcelona, they will then face Atltico Madrid on April 4th at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in La Liga round 30. On the 8th, they will face Atltico Madrid again in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Spotify Camp Nou.
