Joao Pedro snatched the Premier League’s Player of the Month award this Friday, capping off an explosive start to the season where he’s already bagged two goals and two assists in just three games. This guy is absolutely red-hot for Chelsea, and the whole league is taking notice after what a certain legendary midfielder just said.
Xabi Alonso Just Dropped the Biggest Take of the Season
Xabi Alonso just handed out arguably the biggest comparison of the year. The Chelsea boss, who played alongside Karim Benzema at Real Madrid for 195 appearances, didn’t just compare his 24-year-old Brazilian international to the French legend, he also put him in the same breath as Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland. Alonso stated, “If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that Joao [Pedro] is there, Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.” That’s not just praise, that’s a statement! Haaland, remember, won last season’s Premier League Golden Boot with 27 goals and has 42 goals and nine assists in his last 57 matches for City. Talk about high company.
But what makes Pedro so special for Alonso to go there? Well, unlike Haaland, who is a specialist goalscorer, Pedro has played as a midfielder, a number 10, and a winger throughout his career. He brings a much more rounded skillset to the pitch. Alonso broke it down, saying Pedro “reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent. So yes, he is still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities that he has.” Benzema himself, now 38, boasts 523 goals in 994 appearances and multiple Champions League titles. That’s the level Alonso is talking about!
This Guy Isn’t Just Good, He’s Chelsea’s Number Nine
This isn’t just a flash in the pan for Joao Pedro. Since joining Chelsea at the start of last season, he’s already put up 25 goals. His debut campaign alone saw him hit 20 goals, making him the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to reach that mark in a single season. Overall, he’s got 25 goals and 11 assists in 57 matches for the Blues. The club clearly believes in him, handing him the iconic number nine shirt at the start of this season and locking him down with a new contract last month until 2034.
And if you think a surprise omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad this summer might have slowed him down, think again. Alonso confirmed Pedro had “enough motivation” within him, calling the omission “painful for him, but that is in the past.” That motivation clearly translated to the pitch, earning him this recent Player of the Month award, edging out teammate Cole Palmer, who snagged the award in September 2024. Pedro has since been recalled for Brazil’s September international fixtures against New Zealand and India, showing that even his national team can’t ignore his form for long.
Pedro is clearly on a mission to prove he belongs in the elite conversation, and with Alonso’s high praise, the expectations are through the roof. Can he keep this insane form going and truly solidify his place among the Premier League’s top tier? The season is young, but if his first three games and a Player of the Month award are any indication, we’re in for a wild ride watching this guy develop.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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