Ronald Koeman talks Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong – ‘One of the best’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman, now leading the Netherlands national team, recently shared his thoughts on Pedri and his rise at the Catalan club.

Koeman recalled how, during his time at Barcelona, he made the decision to keep Pedri in the squad despite initial uncertainty about the young midfielder’s role.

When Pedri arrived from UD Las Palmas at just 17 years old, there was no guarantee he would be part of the first-team setup. However, Koeman quickly recognised the teenager’s talent.

“I only needed two training sessions to see how good a player he is. Hopefully, his injuries will respect him because, of course, he is one of the best midfielders out there,” said Koeman.

Praise for Lamine Yamal

Ronald Koeman praised Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

Koeman also discussed another rising star at Barcelona, Lamine Yamal. While he usually avoids singling out individual players, he acknowledged the exceptional talent Yamal possesses.

The former Barcelona boss noted that it is almost impossible to completely neutralise a player of his calibre. He stressed that managing such talent requires teamwork, as one defender alone cannot contain a player of his quality.

“I don’t like to talk about individual players. I think we controlled Lamine well the other day, but you can never completely cover up a player of that talent. It’s not just a question of the full-back.

“The others have to help too. Stopping a player like that is impossible. At any moment, he can open the game up because of his quality, but they also have to keep an eye on our players because they are also very good.”

On Frenkie de Jong

Koeman refused to speak on Frenkie de Jong’s renewal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The conversation then shifted to Frenkie de Jong and his future at the club. Koeman recognised De Jong’s importance to Barcelona, particularly his resurgence in form.

However, he refrained from commenting on whether the midfielder should extend his stay at the club.

While he acknowledged De Jong’s deep affection for Barcelona, he maintained that decisions regarding renewals and contracts fall outside his remit.

“The other day he couldn’t play the entire match due to the problem he was carrying, but he’s a great player and has recovered the best possible form.

“I know he loves Barcelona and Barcelona, ​​but I’m not the one to assess whether he should renew or stay with the team,” he said.

Source: Mundo Deportivo