One of the players who has evolved the most in the 2024-25 season at FC Barcelona is the 22-year-old midfielder, Pedri González. Undoubtedly, having improved his physical preparation has made him less prone to injuries and, therefore, an asset that has been able to exploit various facets of his game, becoming the undisputed owner of the 'engine room' of the Catalan team and one of the best footballers in the world.
Although it is evident that the contribution of Pedri González may not be the most striking in terms of goals and assists (he has scored five goals and provided six assists in 39 matches), it is undeniable that the '8' is one of the most impactful players in Hansi Flick's starting eleven. As a pivot, he is responsible for managing the ball circulation from the defensive to the offensive zone, showing solidity and accuracy, qualities within the reach of very few.
He also possesses exceptional creativity, game vision, and tactical intelligence, which almost always allows him to make the right decisions. However, in this 2024-25 season, Pedri González has shown an unexpected facet in his game: defensive capability.
Pedri González, the best ball recoverer in the top five European leagues
Despite being a player of slight physical build and with characteristics more inclined towards those of a 'big player' who is mainly involved in creating plays, he has shown that he can also defend like the best. He has even become a specialist in ball recovery.
In fact, a striking piece of data has recently emerged thanks to the 'WhoScored' statistics website, which, according to its metrics, places Pedri as the player with the most ball recoveries so far in the 2024-25 season in the top five European leagues (LaLiga, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1), with a total of 161 recoveries. In this aspect, he surpasses players like Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea - 159), Adrien Thomasson (RC Lens - 158), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth - 158), and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest - 150).