In a shocking twist that’s got everyone buzzing, we’ve just learned that Andre Onana, the goalkeeper with feet so good he could moonlight as a dancer, actually came from La Masia.
Meanwhile, Pedri, the Spanish sensation whose passing skills could make a GPS jealous, is not a product of that hallowed academy. Fans across social media have thus expressed their reactions to this unique mystery in today’s episode of Football’s Most Unexpected Stories.
It’s like finding out your favourite magician is just a guy in a top hat who knows how to make a great coffee!
Who would’ve guessed that the keeper known for his distribution has a pedigree that screams ‘Barça’, while the midfield maestro is out here flying under the radar?
So, grab your magnifying glasses, folks—it’s time to uncover the mystery behind these unexpected player paths!
Andre Onana’s path—the forgotten La Masia graduate?
We all know Andre Onana and how quickly he came up in conversations as being one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world when Inter reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League a few years ago.
In the final, the Cameroonian stood out with his intricate passes between the lines and his equally dominant and quality long balls.
But little did we know then that what we were witnessing was a product of the La Masia Way and Academy, which the 28-year-old was initially part of.
We should have guessed—the composure on the ball, ability to always find your free man—these are things that are instilled in one, right from the beginning, if you are a part of La Masia. The Barcelona way was indeed this and was reflected in Onana’s gameplay throughout his career.
The Cameroonian joined the Samuel Eto Academy very early in his career and it is here from where, he switched and joined Barcelona at the age of 14, in 2010.
He was initially on various loans, across various clubs including the likes of Cornella and Vista Alegre. This was as he was still under the age of 18 and a non-EU citizen and did not meet the required protocols, at that time.
After not being able to cement himself in the Barcelona first team, Onana moved to the Dutch giants Ajax, in 2015. He spent around 7 years at the club, making his debut in the first year itself and making 214 appearances across all competitions.
It was here as well, where Onana was banned for doping purposes. Nevertheless, he was able to redeem himself as an important player for that Ajax team, as he got his reward in 2022 when he eventually moved to Inter Milan in the summer of 2022.
He won the Serie A with Inter and reached the Champions League Final, where he finally deserved the ‘top 3 goalkeepers’ in the world shouts, and was plauded for his ball playing abilities as a goalkeeper.
Soon after, the next season, he moved to Manchester United where he has been a hit and miss until now although recent heroics have shown that the 28-year-old is slowly getting back to his absolute best. (Club Info – Wikipedia)
Pedri’s path—the La Masia prince without any royal Culer pedigree?
When we witness Pedri with a ball at his feet, it’s like Mozart playing his tunes. True footie fans would know that such elegance, touch, and finesse on the ball and the ability to make passes such brilliantly can only come at the cost of one being, well, Spanish, or more specifically, a Culer.
This is because Spain as a nation has been the inspiration for tiki-taka football and playing the sport the right way, with the spirit of which it should be played. They have given us countless talents to witness, and when someone like Pedri sticks the ball at his feet and passes in triangles, you just know he’s Spanish and you scream “La Masia.”
And guess what, this is what the entire world did. We all assumed because of this flair and inbuilt passing style and Pedri being so young, he must be a La Masia graduate.
But, did you know that the 21-year-old never stepped a foot in the Barca youth academy? The same academy that produced the likes of Gavi, Ansu Fati and co did not produce the 21-year-old, originally.
Pedri and his family in his early days moved to Tegueste a town in Canary Islands and it is here where he joined UD Tegueste, playing as a centre-back in the lower division of Spanish football. At the age of 13, he signed for CF Juventud Laguna from Tegueste and served 5 years at the club.
Post that, the Spanish midfielder joined the youth academy of Las Palmas in 2018, in the Segunda division, where the very next year he signed his first professional contract with the club after establishing himself as a first team starter.
Pedri made his senior club debut at 16 and scored his first goal a month later and became their youngest goal scorer.
It was in this year that Barcelona registered their interest in the player and eventually secured his services in 2019, with the aim of him joining up with the squad the next year in 2020. Pedri signed for 5 million on a 2-year contract with the Catalan club, which, if we retrospect in today’s time, is in pennies compared to the value and overall potential the 21-year-old has.
Since then, the young midfielder has not looked back, cementing himself as a starter and an important player for his club and country. Although cursed by awful and constant injuries, Barcelona fans will hope that the Spanish maestro can keep himself fit, get back to his best, and fulfill his true potential. (Club Info – Wikipedia)
So, there you have it—In the great football factory of La Masia, it seems we’ve got a goalkeeper who can pass better than some midfielders and a midfielder who’s still searching for his passport to the academy!
Who knew that Onana would be the one keeping the La Masia dream alive with his fancy footwork, while Pedri, the wizard of the pitch, is stuck in the ‘Wait, what?’ club?
It just goes to show that football is full of surprises, much like discovering that your local bakery is actually run by a Michelin-star chef. So, as we raise a toast to these two stars, let’s remember: sometimes the best players don’t come from where you think—and they might just keep us guessing, one bewildering fact at a time!
