‘The best player in the world in his position’ – Toni Kroos opines on what sets Barcelona midfield star apart from his counterparts | OneFootball

Several FC Barcelona players have taken a leap in their game since the arrival of Hansi Flick on the Blaugrana bench. Raphinha is perhaps the most obvious example of this phenomenon, but other players have shown such improvements as well.

Although he is not getting as many goals as Robert Lewandowski or Raphinha, another player who has taken his game a whole notch upwards is the midfielder Pedri, who is arguably the most important player in Hansi Flick’s team.

Pedri remains crucial for Hansi Flick

The Spaniard has been showing immense influence on the pitch, and has emerged as one of the best midfielders in Europe this season. This is not only being recognised by his teammates or fans, but some neutral observers and rivals have also recognised his talent.

This is particularly the case with the former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired from professional football last summer but still remains one of the most easily recognised faces in the sport.

FC Barcelona midfielder Pedri. [Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images]

Toni Kroos explains why Pedri is so special

As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the German praised Pedri for his unique influence on the game:

“Pedri is generally a player who is greatly missed when he’s not on the pitch. He doesn’t just score goals or provide assists; he offers solutions. Beating opponents doesn’t always have to be with a pass, but Pedri is one of the few midfielders who has the gift of dribbling past opponents in tight spaces.”

“He’s almost more important than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, or Lewandowski. They are the ones who decide the outcome of matches, but to make that happen, Pedri is currently the best player in the world in his position, in my opinion.”

Toni Kroos also explained what it is like facing the Canarian:

“I always had the feeling that he doesn’t look fast, but then he started dribbling and I said to myself: ‘At least he made a mistake, but I can’t even do that.’ He’s not like Messi, for example, who you can see moving at an incredible speed. This player doesn’t look fast, but he actually is. He’s fast because his movement is incredibly light.”

Lastly, the former Real Madrid maestro also recognised why he likes players like Pedri:

This is definitely some notable praise for the Barcelona midfield star, coming from one of the best midfielders of his time and also a player who played for the Blaugranes’ archrivals, Real Madrid.

It is nice to see former opponents recognising the talents of a player like Pedri, who, without a doubt, has been one of the best players in his position this season.