Alvaro Benito explains why Rodri and Pedri can thrive together at Barcelona

Barcelona’s signing of Rodri from Real Madrid has reignited debate over whether he and Pedri Gonzalez can operate effectively in the same midfield, but analyst Alvaro Benito believes the pair are naturally suited to playing together.

The doubts intensified after Pedri was left on the substitutes’ bench during the 2026 World Cup, with some observers pointing to the Spain midfielder’s reduced role when he played alongside Rodri for the national team.

However, Benito, an analyst on Cadena SER’s “El Sanedrin” programme, said there was no tactical reason for the two players to be incompatible.

“There is not a single reason for them not to be compatible, because they do not occupy the same spaces and they are not the same type of player,” Benito said.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has been in charge for more than two years and has transformed the club into a side that has impressed audiences around the world. Under Flick, Barcelona have dominated domestically and returned strongly to the forefront of European football.

This summer, Flick decided to make what was described as the final step towards competing for the Champions League by signing Rodri Hernandez. Rodri was named the best player at the 2026 World Cup and won the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Barcelona secured the deal ahead of their rivals Real Madrid after the player himself made the final decision.

The arrival of the midfielder brought considerable technical quality to Flick’s squad, but questions were quickly raised over how he would fit alongside Pedri. Those concerns were based largely on what happened with Spain, where Pedri’s influence appeared to diminish when he played next to Rodri.

Benito said he had watched the two players closely during Barcelona’s latest match against Valencia and detected a repeated pattern in their positioning, possibly one that develops instinctively.

“When Rodri was on the pitch, Pedri did not drop back very much into midfield because he thought Rodri, with his tactical intelligence and the support of the two central defenders, was enough to move the team forward,” he explained.

According to Benito, the clearest evidence came when Rodri was substituted.

“At that moment, Pedri dropped deeper to help circulate the ball and build attacks,” he said.

That observation prompted fellow studio guest Manu Carreno to offer his own assessment: “Perhaps Pedri is the happiest player to play with Rodri.”

Benito acknowledged that Barcelona did not have an urgent need for a defensive midfielder, given the presence of Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Casado, who enjoyed an excellent season.

Even so, he argued that signing a player of Rodri’s quality could only improve the team.

“The best player in the world is coming. He is the best in the world in that position. It is normal that we do not need him, but it would make no sense for him not to improve the team,” Benito said.

Former Barcelona great Jose Mari Bakero agreed with Benito’s technical analysis, but said Rodri’s value extended beyond his role on the pitch.

“I think they really did need him. It goes beyond the technical and tactical aspects. Barcelona need leaders, personality and presence on and off the pitch,” Bakero said.

He added: “In a fierce competition whose objective is to win the Champions League, they needed a player with maturity and experience. Rodri is that player.”