Over his profession with the likes of Arsenal, Juventus and now Barcelona, Wojciech Szczesny has played with some legendary names but thinks one among his current teammates is essentially the most impressive player he has ever seen.
The 35-year-old won two FA Cups with the Gunners, three Serie A and three Coppa Italia titles with Juve and has now added a La Liga and Copa del Rey to his CV with Barca.
He’s played alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Robin van Persie, Mo Salah and Francesco Totti on loan at Roma and Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.
The goalkeeper will think highly of lots of his teammates but one stands out above the remainder.
Szczesny has been blown away by the talent of Pedri, saying he has never seen a player have a season just like the 22-year-old has just produced.
The midfielder made 59 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona and the Pole says he has never been more impressed by a player.
‘What Pedri did this season… I’ve never seen a season like that from any player,’ Szczesny told Foot Truck.
‘Watching him live, seeing how he controls the sport each defensively and offensively… Incredible.
‘He’s the player who’s impressed me essentially the most in my entire life. I don’t know what makes up his genius, but he doesn’t lose the ball.’
The Barcelona goalkeeper reckons Pedri deserves to win the Ballon d’Or because of this of his immense season, adding: ‘For me, he was the very best on this planet.’
Szczesny will not be the one Barcelona star to recognise the brilliance of Pedri, with Raphinha describing him because the ‘heart of the team’ earlier this season.
‘Pedri doesn’t have many assists, he doesn’t have numerous goals… but for me, he’s crucial player on our team,’ said the Brazilian. ‘I feel he’s the center of the team.’
Manager Hansi Flick agreed, saying: ‘Raphinha said Pedri is the center of the team? Yes, exactly. Pedri is improbable. When he touches the ball, you see real magic. He’s convalescing, continuously developing himself.’
Messi on Pedri
Former Barcelona chief Ramon Planes told Carrusel Deportivo of Pedri: ‘From the moment he joined Barca… already within the second training session, Messi himself said, “Where did we get this kid?”
‘There was little question that he had to remain. In the primary week, I told his agent to ignore going out on loan, that he was definitely going to remain within the Barca first team.’
Pedri has attracted praise from outside of his club as well, with former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos describing him as the very best on this planet in his position.
Speaking via Mundo Deportivo, the German said: ‘Pedri is mostly a player who’s greatly missed when he’s not on the pitch. He doesn’t just rating goals or provide assists; he offers solutions. Beating opponents doesn’t at all times should be with a pass, but Pedri is one among the few midfielders who has the gift of dribbling past opponents in tight spaces.
‘He’s almost more necessary than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, or Lewandowski. They’re those who resolve the end result of matches, but to make that occur, Pedri is currently the very best player on this planet in his position, for my part.’
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