Barcelona wonderkid Pedri has teased that his club should make a daring move sign Spain teammate Marco Asensio from bitter rivals Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been playing alongside Asensio at the World Cup, and the pair helped La Roja destroy Costa Rica on Thursday as part of an emphatic 7-0 drubbing. While Pedri didn't register a goal or assist, Asensio got on the scoresheet to remind the world of his ability after entering the final year of his Real Madrid contract.
After six seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 26-year-old forward's deal with Los Blancos is set to expire next June amid links of a free transfer to Manchester United and Liverpool. His predicament has prompted Pedri to suggest that he joins him at Barcelona, a move which would no doubt send shockwaves around Spanish football due to the two clubs' heated rivalry.
Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE, Pedri admitted: "You have to see what happens with Marco's contract but I think all the good players have to be in Barcelona. I'm not much for doing those things, convincing anyone."
Last month, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Asensio's future would only be addressed after the Mallorca academy graduate returns from the World Cup. "We haven't talked about the issue of Asensio's contract," Ancelotti stated.
"He has played little but when he does, he shows that he can do it. He has been decisive and he will have more minutes in the future, and after the World Cup we will talk about his contractual position."
Pedri and Asensio linking up at the Camp Nou would certainly be an exciting proposition if Spain's barnstorming start to the World Cup is anything to go by. The two Spaniards are part of a squad that boss Luis Enrique has labelled "exceptional" - but he still wants more even after Thursday's seven-goal triumph.
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"Our objective is to continuously dominate the play, and for that you have to have the ball," Enrique told TVE post-match. "Your opponent gets tired and can't get into it, our pressing was exceptional and the 16 players we used were superb - although we still have room to improve."
Dani Olmo, who opened the floodgates with his nation's 100th World Cup, added: "I don't think it was a question of Costa Rica being bad. It was about our team being strong. I think the win was what we were due. We deserved to win after taking the game to them. I think our team is strong and that is the path that we need to follow. It was a confidence boost for sure."
