Andres Iniesta believes that Barcelona’s rising star, Pedri, will forge his own legacy despite comparisons to the legendary midfielder. Meanwhile, despite recent comments from Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich about a potential move to Barcelona, the club has no plans to pursue him due to his high salary demands, preferring to focus on their academy talent.
Iniesta on Barca Gem: ‘Going to make his own history’
In an interview with Radio MARCA, Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta discussed the comparisons between him and midfield talent Pedri, emphasizing that the young Spaniard will forge his own path and create his own legacy in football.
Since making his debut for Barcelona, Pedri has been frequently compared to Iniesta, who recently confirmed his retirement from professional football.
The 21-year-old former Las Palmas prodigy has consistently expressed that he regarded the Barcelona legend as his idol, and his decision to wear the No. 8 shirt at the club has only intensified the comparisons.
“We always like to make comparisons. It would be good if we saw Pedri as Pedri, not as the new ‘guy. ‘ He is going to make his own way and his own history. And he’s doing it, he’s doing it very well. The talent he has is brutal; he has to keep growing,” said Iniesta.
The former Spanish international also praised La Masia’s success, highlighting that credit should be shared with the coaches who have dedicated themselves to supporting the academy.
“I would say that recognition or satisfaction for a job well done is not only a job done by the youth academy. It is the work of many years and also the work of the coaches who are committed to it,” remarked Iniesta.
“In previous years, Xavi did it, and this year, Flick is doing it. So we are delighted.”
With his playing career behind him, Iniesta was asked if he planned to follow in the footsteps of former teammates Xavi and Cesc Fabregas and pursue a managerial role.
“I have a relationship with both of them and we have talked to each other. Both of them decided to go down that road,” replied Iniesta.
“We have to rediscover that illusion and challenge for wanting to improve, for wanting to do better. They, well, they already have their baggage. I haven’t even started yet.”
Barcelona Not Eyeing Bayern Star Despite His Comments
Tonight’s matchup between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich is attracting significant attention, not just from fans of the two teams, but also from neutrals, as it is one of the most exciting matches in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
The lead-up to this match has been intriguing, with the Bavarians recently stirring the Catalans through their social media posts, while several players from Die Roten have shared their thoughts on the upcoming game.
One of the standout remarks ahead of this match came from Joshua Kimmich, who hinted at the possibility of a future move to Barcelona during a press conference.
The German midfielder’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of this season, and he has been linked with Barcelona for over a year. Negotiations for a renewal are still ongoing, and discussions appear to be progressing positively for now.
Despite these efforts to entice him, SPORT reports that FC Barcelona will not pursue Kimmich’s signing next summer, as they consider the move too costly and prefer to focus on promoting their academy talent.
German media reports suggest that the midfielder is requesting a salary of €15 million, with bonuses potentially bringing his total earnings to €20 million annually. These figures are considered too high for Barcelona, who had already dismissed the idea of signing the German last summer due to his salary demands.
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