Alonso Compares Joao Pedro to Benzema and Haaland

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised striker Joao Pedro, comparing him in style to former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema and asserting that he is on par with Manchester City's Erling Haaland. The 24-year-old Brazil international has made a notable impact since joining Chelsea, scoring twice and assisting twice in his first three matches of the current season. This performance earned him the Premier League's Player of the Month award on Friday, marking his first win of this accolade, surpassing teammate Cole Palmer, who was honored in September 2024.

In discussing Joao Pedro's potential, Alonso affirmed, "I would say yes" when asked if the forward could be compared to the prolific Haaland, who claimed the Premier League Golden Boot with 27 goals last season. "If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I'm sure that Joao is there, Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way."

Joao Pedro recently signed a new contract with Chelsea, ensuring his stay at Stamford Bridge until 2034 and has been wearing the number nine shirt this season. He is the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to net 20 goals in a single season, having scored a total of 25 goals along with 11 assists in 57 matches since his arrival last summer. In contrast, Haaland scored 42 goals and provided nine assists in his last 57 matches for Manchester City.

Alonso remarked on Joao Pedro's versatility compared to Haaland, noting that unlike the Norwegian goal-scorer, Joao Pedro has played various positions, including midfielder, number 10, and winger. He described Joao Pedro's abilities, stating, "In many things he 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."

Benzema, now 38 and a free agent, has achieved 523 goals in 994 appearances for clubs including France, Lyon, Real Madrid, and Saudi Arabian teams Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal. Meanwhile, Joao Pedro missed the Brazil national team’s World Cup squad this summer but has been recalled for September's games against New Zealand and India.

Regarding Joao Pedro's omission from the World Cup by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, Alonso noted that it gave the player sufficient motivation for the season. "He had enough motivation. He already had enough within him, so I didn't need to go there. It was painful for him, but that is in the past. We are now focused on what he is doing well and what he can do better. He has been outstanding, not just in football terms, but in his personality, his maturity and his desire. He has a very clear goal this season, which is to have a great campaign and score a lot of goals."