Xabi Alonso selected João Pedro when asked about the player who reminds him of Karim Benzema, stating that the Chelsea striker possesses a complete package of attacking quality and tactical intelligence.
Alonso’s praise followed the Brazilian earning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August, after scoring two goals and providing two assists across Chelsea’s opening three matches of the season.
When asked whether João Pedro belongs in the same conversation as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Alonso replied: “Yes, I place him among the best strikers in the Premier League.”
The Chelsea manager explained that his admiration goes beyond goal scoring, pointing to the player’s character, maturity, and desire to continue improving while competing for individual honors throughout the season.
“In many ways, João Pedro reminds me of Karim Benzema,” Alonso said. He added: “He is effective inside and outside the box, drifts well to the left flank, possesses great heading ability, and is a very smart, complete player.”
João Pedro began his career at Fluminense before scoring 24 goals in 109 appearances for Watford. He subsequently moved to Brighton, where he tallied 30 goals and 10 assists in 70 matches, before joining Chelsea in 2025 for a fee of £55 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Upon his arrival, the Brazilian scored a brace against Fluminense and found the net in the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain, before finishing last season with 20 goals in 50 appearances. Alonso’s comparison carries significant weight, grounded in direct experience having played alongside Benzema at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014.
