Pedri is one of the best midfielders in the world today, as he has been a raging success for both Barcelona and the Spanish National Team.
Having achieved so much at such a young age means Pedri is also incredibly marketable. He is contracted to Adidas as he’s often seen in numerous advertisements.
This week, we saw a new advertisement featuring Pedri and three other men, which will be running in strategically targeted locations in Barcelona and Madrid.
Those three men in the new Adidas advertisement happen to be Pedri’s childhood friends – Francisco, Ruben, and Daniel.
The commercial has already been released on Pedri’s Instagram account.
How Pedri‘ Bond With’s 3 Childhood Friends Helped Shape His Journey
The story of Pedri and his friends Fran, Dani, and Ruben, goes all the way back to the days when he was just a 3-year-old kid in Tegueste.
Fran is Pedri’s oldest friend, the first among the three to become friends with Pedri and has been by his side throughout the Barca magician’s journey.
He states:
“My mother put me into a small football team when I was 3 and he was put into the same football team from 3 to 5 years old. We also lived super close here in Tegueste, about 200 meters away, and we’ve always been friends since we were kids.”
Although Fran and Pedri go way back, Dani was the one closest to him. Dani, who played with Pedri between the ages of 4 and 16 years old, spent a lot of time with Pedri on the field and off it. The duo would often spend their downtime playing a lot of Monopoly and al Presidente (a Spanish card game).
Ruben, the third and arguably the most important childhood friend, also played a key role in Pedri’s journey. He coached Pedri at U.D. Tegueste between the ages of 9 and 12 and immediately noticed his talent early on, making comparisons to Iniesta the first time he saw Pedri play as a 9-year-old.
Interestingly, he may have had the most significant impact on Pedri’s life as he was the one who changed Pedri’s position from the front to the centre of the pitch. Ruben always believed in Pedri and thought that someone of Pedri’s talent should be in contact with the ball as much as possible. Moreover, Pedri also credits Ruben for being the coach who taught him how to compete.
The recent Adidas advertisement isn’t the first time Pedri has tried to include his childhood friends in his football ventures.
They have been a constant support for Pedri as he has navigated his career. From supporting him as a little kid to helping him through the youth ranks to his move to Las Palmas to the eventual rise and superstardom at Barcelona, the three friends have been with him throughout the journey.
Fran, Dani, and Ruben often come and watch Pedri play, be it at home or away games. They used to come and watch him at Las Palmas, now they do the same with Barcelona.
Talking about Barcelona, his friends Fran, Dani, and Ruben also played a key role in Pedri’s rise into the Barca first team.
Pedri was a rather frail and lightweight individual when he made his Barca debut, and he was told to bulk up and do a lot of physical work over the summer. Instead of going to places like Dubai or Los Angeles for extravagant training programs, he chose to return home to Tenerife and train with his childhood friends.
The four friends were staying at the Adeje village, with Pedri getting assigned a personal dietician to look after his nutrition.
Fran was Pedri’s personal trainer. helping him in gym sessions and training. Dani was his emotional support as they enjoyed swimming, afternoons of paddleball, and playing Monopoly and Catan. Ruben resumed his role as Pedri’s childhood coach, helping him with football drills and keeping him sharp.
All three friends have been ever-present in Pedri’s journey – from the days when he was playing for Las Palmas to the pinnacle of Pedri’s career when he lifted the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
Pedri’s childhood friends have remained the only constants in an otherwise rollercoaster of a ride that is a footballer’s career.
