Sami Khedira had a Mexican legend as mentor as a young player

In 2006 Pável Pardo decided to leave Club América to join Stuttgart and take his talent to the Bundesliga. The Mexican midfielder played 3 seasons in Germany and won the league title the same year he arrived. During his time with Stuttgart he met a young Sami Khedira who in the past has admitted he learned a lot from Pardo.

“I remember Sami Khedira practicing with the first team at a very young age. Even though he belonged to the U17 squad he constantly was called to practice with the first team and eventually he got his opportunity in a game.

“Back then Stuttgart used the 4-3-1-2 formation and the holding midfielder was Da Silva but the coach at that time will also use Khedira every now and then. Khedira showed a lot of talent for the age he had and he would run the entire field back and forwards. With time he evolved and became a smarter player,” said Pardo during an interview with ESPN.

Years later it was Sami Khedira who admitted that his first mentor was Pável Pardo when he started playing for Stuttgart and made his debut as a professional footballer. This declaration from the World Cup winner with Germany surprised Pardo.

“When I heard that it took me by surprise to be honest. I was an experienced player and I just wanted to help the young players. It is nice that someone like Khedira thinks of me that way and I always try to leave a certain legacy everywhere I go, not only in soccer but in life in general. I liked approaching the young players and giving them advice, I always did it with every team I played for. I mean Khedira was 17 when I met him and I was 30,” said Pardo.