Toni Kroos Snubs Lamine Yamal, Says This Young Barcelona Star Is Their Real MVP Ahead of El Clasico
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is one of football’s fiercest, spanning decades of domestic and European battles. With both clubs constantly competing for top honors, tensions often spill beyond the pitch.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni recently stoked the fire again, criticizing Barcelona’s Copa del Rey celebrations after Los Blancos’ defeat.
“They celebrate our defeats as if we were never going to win again. We’ll be back,” said Tchouaméni.
But in a surprising twist, former Real Madrid maestro Toni Kroos has taken a much different tone by openly praising Barcelona midfielder Pedri.
Kroos Picks Pedri Over Lewandowski and Yamal
Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, Kroos, who recently retired from professional football, called Pedri “Barcelona’s most important player” ahead of prolific attackers Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
“Pedri, in general, is a player you will miss when he’s not playing, no matter who you’re against,” Kroos said. “He doesn’t just score goals or provide assists. He offers solutions.”
Despite Pedri scoring just four goals in 33 matches this season, Kroos insists that the Spanish midfielder’s value goes far beyond statistics.
“In the Champions League alone, he’s outclassing his opponents every game. In La Liga, it’s even more extreme,” he added.
Also Read: Champions League: What Arsenal Must Do Differently to Overcome PSG in the Second Leg
“He Doesn’t Look Fast But He Is”: Kroos On Pedri’s Unique Skill
Kroos also praised Pedri’s deceptive dribbling and vision on the pitch.
“He doesn’t look fast, but when he starts dribbling, you realize how light and elegant his movement is,” Kroos said. “It’s not like Messi, whose speed is obvious. Pedri looks slow, but he’s actually incredibly quick because of how he moves.”
Stats support Kroos’ assessment. According to FootyStats, Pedri has completed 34 of 53 dribble attempts this season (64.15%), edging out Jude Bellingham’s 34 successful dribbles from 58 attempts (58.62%).
Kroos’ comments come at a crucial time as Real Madrid prepares to face Barcelona in another high-stakes El Clasico. Having lost the last two meetings, Los Blancos will be desperate for three points.
A win would be a statement and a vital step in keeping Barcelona from winning the La Liga title.
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