Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso has stirred the football world by suggesting that Real Madrid should sign Barcelona midfielder Pedri—not necessarily to play him, but to weaken their arch-rivals.
Pedri, a key figure for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, has enjoyed a stellar season, playing a pivotal role in the Catalan club’s domestic treble under new coach Hansi Flick. The 22-year-old joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2019 and has since made over 200 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 21 assists.
This season alone, Pedri registered six goals and eight assists across 59 appearances in all competitions. He also scored in Barcelona’s 3–2 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final in April.
Despite being tied to Barcelona with a contract that runs until 2030 and showing no signs of wanting to leave, Alonso believes Real Madrid should make a bold move.
Speaking to newsmen, the two-time F1 world champion said, “For Real Madrid, I would sign Pedri to weaken Barcelona.”
Taking his point further, Alonso humorously added that Madrid could even sideline Pedri just to ensure he wouldn’t play against them. “I’d leave him on the bench, so they don’t have him anymore,” he said.
While the idea seems more playful than practical, Alonso’s remarks underline Pedri’s growing influence and the intense rivalry between Spain’s two biggest clubs.
