‘People thought I was crazy!’ – Joao Pedro opens up on journey from Fluminense to Chelsea – via Watford – as £60m man insists flying start to life at Stamford Bridge is ‘just the beginning’
That patience and resilience have paid off spectacularly. Arriving from Brighton, Pedro was fast-tracked into Chelsea’s starting line-up in July, cutting short his summer holiday to ensure he could hit the ground running at the Club World Cup. The reward? A dream debut, where he became an instant hero. Against Palmeiras in the quarter-final, he showed flashes of brilliance. But it was the semi-final against his boyhood club, Fluminense, where Pedro truly announced himself, scoring two sensational goals against the very team where his journey began. Then, in the final against Paris Saint-Germain, he was at it again, delivering on the biggest stage to help Chelsea lift the trophy.
