Wenger Praises Barcelona’s Pedri, Likens Him to Cesc Fabregas After UCL Defeat

Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lavished praise on Barcelona midfielder Pedri, comparing the 22-year-old Spaniard to former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, following Barcelona’s 4-3 loss to Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at San Siro on May 6, 2025. Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Wenger highlighted Pedri’s exceptional talent, stating, “We speak only about Yamal for Barcelona. I would love to highlight Pedri. For me, Pedri is absolutely unbelievable. He puts me on my knees. The science of a midfielder is in Pedri’s legs and brain. Everything he does is unbelievable.” He drew parallels to Fabregas, noting, “He is like Fabregas, yes. They are comparable. In terms of authority and charisma on the football pitch, they are comparable,” as cited in posts on X from @BarcaNotes and @beINSPORTS_EN.

Pedri, who played the full 90 minutes in the 7-6 aggregate defeat, was a standout despite controversy over a VAR-awarded penalty to Inter, which Wenger criticized as a “huge mistake,” per Metro News. His performance, with 83% pass accuracy and two key passes, earned a 7.9 Sofascore rating, second only to Lamine Yamal, and drew further acclaim from X users like @BarcaWorldwide, who shared Wenger’s comment, “Pedri is the mind and the feet.” Wenger’s comparison to Fabregas, who debuted for Arsenal at 16 and captained the side by 21, underscores Pedri’s maturity, having already made 196 appearances for Barcelona, with his 200th expected before the season‘s end, per Barca Blaugranes. Pedri’s trophy cabinet includes a 2022-23 La Liga title and the 2024 European Championship with Spain.

The Fabregas comparison highlights shared traits: both are technically gifted, vision-driven midfielders with commanding presence, though Wenger noted Pedri excels in dribbling and final balls, while Fabregas favored long passes, per @BarcaNotes on X. Fabregas, now Como’s manager, mentored Pedri during Spain’s Euro 2020 campaign, a connection fans on X, like @FCBPG86, celebrated as “two geniuses.” However, Barcelona’s elimination, with Pedri unable to convert late chances, shifts focus to their La Liga title defense, where they lead Real Madrid by five points as of May 8. Critics on X, such as @PolymarketFC, noted Pedri’s fatigue in the second leg, suggesting Hansi Flick overplayed him post-injury, a concern given his history of hamstring issues.

Wenger’s endorsement, echoed by SPORTbible and GiveMeSport for his fury over the Inter penalty, elevates Pedri’s global profile as he approaches his 23rd birthday. With 18 months left on his contract, Barcelona face pressure to extend his deal amid interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, per Mundo Deportivo. The comparison to Fabregas, who left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011, carries irony, as Pedri embodies the La Masia ethos Fabregas once sought to reclaim, a narrative resonating with fans and analysts alike as Barcelona navigate their post-Champions League path.