SpotlightCaughtOffsideUnverified source· 12 Sept 2026
Alonso Says Joao Pedro Reminds Him of Benzema
Chelsea's boss has likened his Brazilian striker to a Real Madrid legend he once shared a pitch with.
João Pedro
player
Age
24
Club
Chelsea
Nationality
Brazilian
Manager
Xabi Alonso
Compared to
Karim Benzema
What happened. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said striker Joao Pedro reminds him of Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema. Alonso, who played alongside Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu, praised the Brazilian's intelligence, versatility and technical quality across all phases.
- Alonso shared a trophy-laden spell with Benzema at Real Madrid.
- The Chelsea boss called Joao Pedro's skillset 'complete'.
- Praise centres on the 24-year-old's intelligence and versatility.
The comparison raises expectations for Joao Pedro as he looks to justify his manager's faith at Chelsea.
In this story
Xabi Alonso
João Pedro
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