Iniesta ignites El Clásico firestorm: “Pedri is the secret weapon who will crush Real Madrid’s dreams!”
El Clásico fever has reached boiling point — and not because of Lamine Yamal’s bold comments or Pedri’s calm confidence. The real spark has come from Japan, where Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta has dropped a bombshell prediction. The midfield magician, who once ruled the world with Barça, has revealed who he believes will decide the showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu: not Yamal, not the new double pivot… but Pedri himself.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo during the International Health Communication Congress at Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Iniesta was crystal clear:
“He can’t be stopped! He’s the player who will change everything.”
Iniesta urged coach Hansi Flick to make Pedri the focal point of Barça’s starting eleven, calling him “the secret weapon capable of breaking Madrid’s rhythm and destroying their dreams.”
The Clásico could not be more finely poised — both teams are level on 24 points atop LaLiga ahead of Sunday’s clash. And just when the anticipation couldn’t grow any higher, Iniesta’s words have electrified the build-up.
For the World Cup winner, Pedri is more than a talent — he’s the essence of the Barça style.
“He’s the most differential player today in terms of what a footballer truly is: vision, control, the touch that breaks lines. I just want him to keep progressing — it’s great for Barça,” Iniesta said passionately.
But the former number 8 didn’t stop at praise. He drew tactical blueprints too:
“With Pedri’s intelligence, we dominate the tempo, suffocate Bellingham and Tchouaméni, and unleash Yamal and Ferran on the break. If Flick starts him, Madrid won’t stand a chance.”
Pedri, who has four goals and five assists this season despite recurring injuries, boasts an impressive 92% passing accuracy and 2.5 recoveries per match — numbers that underline why many see him as Iniesta’s heir.
The timing of Iniesta’s endorsement couldn’t be more crucial. Flick will miss the match through suspension, leaving assistant Marcus Sorg on the touchline. Still, club insiders claim the German is leaning toward starting Pedri alongside Frenkie de Jong, a duo that has delivered 70% possession in their last three Clásicos together.
Pedri himself welcomed Iniesta’s praise:
“He motivates me. I want to be the player he believes I can be — and at the Bernabéu, I’ll prove it.”
In Madrid, Iniesta’s remarks have not gone unnoticed. Coach Xabi Alonso tried to downplay them, saying:
“Iniesta is a legend, but the Bernabéu respects no one. We’ll play our football.”
Yet even within the Real Madrid dressing room, some admitted feeling the sting: “Pedri has hurt us before,” one insider confessed. With Courtois, Mbappé, and Vinícius leading the charge, Los Blancos are eager to avenge last season’s four consecutive defeats against Barça.
Iniesta’s faith in Pedri carries symbolic weight. Having played 38 Clásicos, the maestro has always championed the Barça DNA — possession, precision, and personality — all traits embodied by the young Canary Islander.
With Lewandowski and Raphinha sidelined, Pedri could be the guiding light in Flick’s likely lineup: Szczęsny; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín López, Rashford; Ferran Torres.
As the clock ticks down to Sunday’s kickoff (9:00 p.m. CET), the stage is set for another chapter in El Clásico’s eternal saga. Will Iniesta’s prophecy come true? Will Pedri — the unstoppable one — carry Barça back to glory?
The world will be watching.
