Barcelona should not rush Pedri into the next ‘Lionel Messi’

Barcelona starlet Pedri has impressed many but shouldn’t be rushed.

With Lionel Messi’s contract coming to an end and no guarantee that he will extend his stay at the club, Barcelona are desperately searching for a replacement. Messi holds the most important role in the club, he is the ace that Barca holds but the club has understood that the Argentine will not be there forever. Many suggested that Ansu Fati would take up the role of the legend but now during his absence, critics think that Pedri will be the one to fill in Messi’s boots.

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The 33-year-old has less than six months left on his contract and in his recent interviews, he still said that he was not sure as to what he will do after the season ends. Barcelona are hoping that the new president, who will be elected on the 24th of January, can persuade the club legend and captain into staying but nothing is of certainty at the moment.

While clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain loom over the Catalan’s star player, waiting to swoop him up, Barcelona must ensure that their club can perform without Messi. In recent matches, one player who has continued to shine, has been an 18-year-old midfielder, Pedri. The Spaniard has great awareness and is not afraid to dribble with the ball and carry it out on his own. He is showing great commitment and passion for the club and has played in a brilliant fashion, every time he has been given a chance by Koeman.

His incredible form has been rewarded by the dutch manager and he has already started 12 times in the La Liga at such a young age. Although he is shining very bright at the movement, former club legend, Rivaldo, has warned the club not to put unnecessary expectations on the youngster. In an interview with Betfair, the former forward said that Pedri is still learning, and putting so much pressure on him could hamper his progression. He said,

"“Pedri is only 18 years old and it would be rash to start putting too much pressure on him, even though the squad has more experienced players to take on the responsibility and should step forward.”Source Goal"

Rivaldo said that at such a young age, Pedri should just be looking to improve his own game and not think too much about the future. The legend also mentioned that there are rumors which suggest that Pedri could be a part of Spain’s squad in the upcoming Euros, which in itself proves the player’s quality. However, his comparison to Messi could ruin the player’s whole career and Rivaldo is scared about that. He continued by saying,

"“But he is very young, and Barcelona should be careful to not put the spotlight on him too soon. He needs to continue improving his game and then perform on the bigger stages other than La Liga, such as the Champions League.”"

The Brazilian ended by saying that this might be the last season for Messi at the Nou Camp and should he eventually leave the club, then Pedri can try to take up more challenges but it would be foolish for Koeman to put too much pressure on the player right now. Now it is time for the player to just improve on his own and give his best for the club. The Spaniard has a five-year deal with the club and thus he has a lot of time on his hand to develop into one of the best at the club.

Can Pedri be the next big star Barca fans are looking for?