‘Heir to the throne’ – Barcelona fans react to Pedri inheriting Iniesta’s No.8
Robin Bairner
- 8 Jul 2022 18:32 BST
- 5 min read
Barcelona announced on Friday that Pedri will take up the No.8 jersey for the 2022/23 season.
Symbolically, this is a big decision for the Catalan club as it puts the 19-year-old front and centre of their long-term project due to the iconic nature of this number at Camp Nou.
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Why is Barcelona's No.8 shirt so iconic?
Of course, it was the shirt worn with distinction for so many years by Andres Iniesta, one of the greatest players to feature for Barca – and midfielder who played all of his years at the elite level of the game with the club. Over this time, he made close to 700 appearances and was a central figure of the Pep Guardiola team that dominated European football.
At 38, Iniesta is still playing, turning out in the J League for Vissel Kobe in Japan.
From the other side of the world, though, he doubtless endorses Barcelona’s decision to give his No.8 jersey to Pedri, who has been likened to him in style.
Although the teenager has a big reputation to live up to, he can scarcely do any worse than Arthur, Miralem Pjanic and Dani Alves, who have worn the shirt since Iniesta departed in 2018.
Barca fans celebrate Pedri taking No.8 jersey
And the spiritual connection between Pedri, who previously wore the No.16 shirt, and Iniesta has fans excited about what he will produce for Barca in the years ahead.
A new era begins. Pedri 8️⃣. pic.twitter.com/omb0yqDiUi
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 8, 2022
Heir to the throne pic.twitter.com/Z45QChCeB5
— 🇳🇱 (@BabluMunna2) July 8, 2022
ALREADY THE BEST NUMBER 8 IN THE WORLD
— ♕ (@ansusio) July 8, 2022
A golden number for the Golden Boy 👑 pic.twitter.com/pJxIgmBP6p
— Sara 🦋 (@SaraFCBi) July 8, 2022
ALREADY THE BEST NUMBER 8 IN THE WORLD
— ♕ (@ansusio) July 8, 2022
Goodluck with number 8 boy 💪🏻 since it’s your fav n dream number 💙❤️ @Pedri pic.twitter.com/Xqr0oQKfCe
— Mey16.10969.131 (@MEY_ANDTEEN) July 8, 2022
Iniesta reborn 🔵🔴
— KENNY💭 (@kheenny7) July 8, 2022
Best 8 itw
— piece (@10pieced) July 8, 2022
But not everyone shared the sense of jubilation, with some warning of the dangers of inheriting such an iconic shirt.
Good luck, you’ll need all of it, can’t avoid the obvious comparisons pic.twitter.com/gyFJGFIIvB
— Deb (@fcbdeb10) July 8, 2022
Given how Pedri has performed since arriving at Barcelona, though, the odds on his succeeding with Iniesta’s No.8 and writing a legacy at the club appear in his favour.
