Xavi singled out Pedro for praise after Barcelona moved eight points clear at the top of La Liga by beating Real Betis, comparing the midfielder to Spain’s “biggest talent”, Andres Iniesta.
Goals from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski boosted Barca’s title bid as they secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Wednesday, with the Blaugrana hanging on after Jules Kounde’s late own goal.
While Pedri missed two good chances before Raphinha’s opener, the 20-year-old created two chances and made 30 passes in the final third in an impressive display.
Speaking after Barca piled more pressure on title rivals Real Madrid – who host Valencia on Thursday – Xavi praised the diminutive midfielder.
“He is a player who is on another level, I have seen very few like him,” said Xavi. “He is talented, he is at the level of Iniesta, but Andres had a continuity to the point where he is still playing.
“Andres is the biggest talent I’ve seen in Spanish football, but Pedri is very similar to him. He can make a difference, he’s already doing it.”
Pedri wasn’t the only young player to shine for Barca, as Alejandro Balde registered his fourth assist of the season from left-back on Raphinha’s goal.
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala (six) is the only under-20 player to have created more goals for team-mates in Europe’s top five leagues this season, leaving Xavi excited by the teenage defender’s potential.
“I am very happy for Balden, he has tremendous potential both in defense and attack,” said Xavi. “He gives us the lead by driving and that is very difficult to see in football.
“He needs to exploit his potential even more, we encourage him to be transcendent, he is also a full-back and sometimes a winger.
“Fortunately we have three spectacular defenders in Marcos [Alonso], [Jordi] Alba and Balde. He is very young and has this capacity, it is a pleasure to see him play.”
Barça’s victory took them to 50 points after 19 games of the season. The Blaugrana have taken a half-century of mid-season points on five previous occasions (in 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2017-18), only failing to win the title once. when it does so (in 2013-14).
However, Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini felt his side matched the hosts and were undone by a misplaced free-kick in the opening stages.
“It was a balanced game that anyone could have won and it was decided by two set-pieces. The first goal is debatable,” said the former Manchester City manager.
“First it was a foul against Aitor Ruibal and it wasn’t given, then they took the foul 20 meters further than it should have and caught us by surprise.”
