Real Madrid signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund immediately opened up conversations about who was better between him and Barcelona’s Pedri – both Golden Boy winners and vital parts of their team dynamics at a young age.
It is indeed unfair to compare the duo, especially given that they have played starkly different roles over the past year.
While Pedri has served as part of Barcelona’s double-pivot, Bellingham has played a more attack-oriented direct role.
What is clear, however, is that both youngsters are amongst the best talents in world football and they could, in fact, have been playing together had a few things gone differently back in the day.
Real Madrid rejecting Pedri
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, Barcelona and Spain midfield mainstay Pedri was asked if he indeed auditioned for Real Madrid earlier in his career and how that went for him.
Surprisingly, the player admitted that he did indeed try out for Los Blancos and attended trials at the Valdebebas. He was, however, rejected for reasons he does not understand to date.
“When I took the test at Valdebebas it was strange; they told me I wasn’t up to standard and I went home,” he said as quoted by MARCA.
If Real Madrid indeed rejected Pedri for not being at the required level, serious questions have to be asked of the scouting team for the player has gone on to become a Ballon d’Or nominee and one of the best players in the world in his position.
For what it is worth, whoever was in charge of observing the talent back then missed out on a glorious opportunity, something that would not happen under any circumstances at this point in the midfielder’s career.