Following Spain‘s historic victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barcelona‘s star midfielder Pedri chose to spend his three-week post-tournament break immersed in Chinese culture.
Rather than staying at standard player luxury resorts, Pedri took advantage of the opportunity to go on an adventurous family vacation while also participating in a major corporate promotional tour sponsored by Adidas. As a high-profile ambassador for grassroots youth football development, his primary destination was Suzhou, where he attended the 2025-26 CHFL (Chinese High School Football League) National Finals.
Tonight at Suzhou Sports Center ✨
— This is Suzhou (@ThisisSuzhou) July 25, 2026
Spanish football star @Pedri is here for the Suzhou‑Wuxi clash of the 2026 Jiangsu City Football League! pic.twitter.com/MOInSnAxJg
Thousands of ardent local fans packed venues to catch a glimpse of the World Champion, who also served as the guest of honor at the ceremonial kickoff of the “Tai Lake Derby” match between Suzhou and Wuxi in front of nearly 32,000 people.
During a cultural visit to the prestigious Suzhou Silk Museum, the midfielder fully embraced local heritage, dressing in a traditional prince-style Hanfu ensemble with intricate, custom Suzhou embroidery.
Pedri stepped onto the pitch while still dressed in the flowing, elegant robes to try his hand at Cuju, a 2,300-year-old Chinese sport widely regarded as the earliest ancestor of modern football.
Despite the restrictive clothing, videos show his signature professional footwork translating seamlessly to the ancient game, following previous family sightseeing stops at the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
However, it was his grand entrance in traditional attire that triggered a brutal roasting session among his Barcelona and Spain international teammates on social media.
Underneath his Instagram post from Suzhou City, his closest friends immediately stated that he would not be changing his wardrobe any time soon.
Gavi led the charge with a quick, one-word roast by saying with an implied eyeroll at his midfield partner’s new look.
“Shaolin”
Eric García, the Barcelona center-back, added fuel to the fire by writing,
“Prepárate 🤣” (“Get ready”)
By implying that the relentless locker room banter waiting for Pedri in Catalonia would be completely unmerciful.
To top it all off, Dani Olmo confirmed the ultimate modern locker-room betrayal, revealing that the screenshot of a robed Pedri had already been permanently immortalized as a popular digital sticker.
“I already have a favorite sticker”(“Ya tengo sticker favorito”)
With Barcelona’s pre-season training fast approaching, Pedri’s multi-purpose cultural and promotional crossover has provided his teammates with months of endless ammunition, ensuring his return to the club will be fraught with teasing.
