Pedri reveals he was once rejected by Real Madrid for not meeting their standards

Barca midfielder Pedri recently revealed that he underwent a trial and was rejected by Real Madrid in the past due to not meeting their standards.

In a recent interview, when asked about his trial at the archrival Real Madrid, Pedri openly confirmed it was true. He admitted that he attended trials at the "Los Blancos" training center in Valdebebas but was unsuccessful.

The Spanish midfielder shared this unpleasant memory: "When I went for the trial at Valdebebas, it was a strange experience; they told me I didn’t meet the standards and that I had to go home. It was a huge shock for me but also a crucial turning point in my career. After that, I joined Barca and was accepted into La Masia. What happened next, you all know."

It is now clear that the Real Madrid scouting team made a historic mistake by overlooking Pedri. Under the guidance of his coaches at Barca, Pedri has grown into an indispensable pillar of the Catalan club since joining the first team and the Spanish national squad. He has not only won the prestigious Golden Boy award but is also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. More importantly, Pedri is now recognized as one of the best midfielders in the world in his position.

Regarding Barca, both they and Real Madrid are very interested in signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi after his move to Liverpool fell through at the end of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Previously, Liverpool agreed to pay £35 million for the English defender, but coach Oliver Glasner insisted that Palace’s captain should not leave, and the club could not find an adequate replacement.

The possibility that Guehi might leave on a free transfer next summer presents an attractive opportunity for big clubs. With Barca’s defense not particularly solid and no transfer fee required in summer 2026, Barca is doing everything possible to convince Guehi to agree.