Like Benzema & as good as Haaland - Alonso on Joao Pedro

What the report says

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has publicly praised striker Joao Pedro, comparing the Brazil international’s all-round attacking game to former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and saying he belongs in the same conversation as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The comments came after Joao Pedro’s strong start to the season, with two goals and two assists in his first three league matches and a Premier League Player of the Month award.

BBC Sport reported that Alonso highlighted Joao Pedro’s versatility, saying the 24-year-old is effective in the box and outside it, can drift left, heads the ball well and reads the game intelligently. The Chelsea manager, who played alongside Benzema at Real Madrid, said those qualities reminded him of the French striker. He also said he would rate Joao Pedro alongside Haaland when discussing the Premier League’s top forwards.

Joao Pedro has now scored 25 goals for Chelsea since joining last summer, including a goal in the club’s Club World Cup final win, and recently signed a new contract through 2034. He was also given the number nine shirt this season. BBC Sport noted that he has been used in several attacking roles during his career, which helps explain why Chelsea view him as more than a pure finisher.

The report also pointed to international context: Joao Pedro was left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad but has since been recalled for September fixtures. Alonso said the omission was painful but that the striker’s motivation was already high.