Scoring twice in a semi-final, on your first start, to put your club within touching distance of a £100million-plus jackpot, is usually cause for celebration. But Joao Pedro was only following the law.
When Chelsea’s new £60m man instantly repaid a large chunk of his transfer fee with that double against Fluminense to send the Blues into Sunday’s Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain, he held up his hands and stopped. He had just adhered to the ‘Lei do Ex’ (law of the ex) – a Brazilian maxim that players always seem to score against their former clubs.
Joao Pedro – never just ‘Pedro’, as they are both part of his given name – struck in the 18th and 56th minutes with two powerful shots with his right foot, a dream start but also a dagger in the heart of the club that gave him a shot at a professional career.
Born in the city of Ribeirao Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo, Joao Pedro and his mother Flavia threw everything into his future as a footballer.
When he was 11, his family 400 miles to Xerem, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, for him to pursue his dreams at Fluminense.
He was first seen by Luiz Felipe, a scout working for Fluminense’s Under 11s and responsible for searching for talents. Felipe met Joao in a tournament at Valparaíso, in Sao Paulo, became friends with the family and took them to Rio de Janeiro.
Joao Pedro struck twice on his debut against Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-final
The 23-year-old Brazil forward scored once in each half against his former side Fluminense
Pedro spent eight years at Fluminense before he completed a move to Watford in 2020
‘We had a life without luxuries, but we never lacked anything when I lived in Ribeirao Preto,’ Joao Pedro, 23, tells Mail Sport.
‘But we left everything behind in pursuit of the dream of becoming a player when Fluminense approved my move to the club’s academy.
‘In Xerem we shared the house with another boy and his mother. We went through some difficult financial times, moments when even food was scarce, where my mother would give up a meal so that I could eat better.
‘Fluminense helped us immensely during those times, with financial and emotional support. Besides trusting me, believing in my development as a person, and my potential as a player.
‘I managed to reach the professional level, and from then on, everything happened in a very positive way in my life. That’s why I am eternally grateful to Fluminense.’
Two days after completing his move from Brighton, Joao Pedro was thrown straight into the action.
He ended his summer holiday early, had a quick photoshoot in Miami and then a Chelsea debut off the bench in the quarter-final victory over Palmeiras.
He got the nod for the semi-final and is the favourite to start up front against PSG, winning the race over Nicolas Jackson and fellow new signing Liam Delap.
Pedro claims that a quick conversation with Enzo Maresca gave him the confidence to move
Chelsea ’s new £60m man instantly repaid a large chunk of his transfer fee with the double
With so many options at Enzo Maresca’s disposal, it is tough to figure out who will get their chance in any given game, but the Brazilian seems to not be bothered by having so much competition.
‘Chelsea is one of the top clubs in the world – it’s natural to have a squad with great players,’ he says. ‘I don’t see it as a problem, but rather as an opportunity for growth.
‘Playing alongside excellent players will only make me grow and will always demand the best from me. Our coach will decide who plays. The important thing for us players is to do our part and always be 100 per cent ready to play.’
Joao Pedro’s rise has been quick. Before he had made his senior debut for Fluminense he had been snapped up by Watford, though his move was delayed by work permit issues and Covid.
He finally moved in 2020, and got them back to the Premier League, before joining Brighton for £30m two years ago. Now he is worth double that.
He reveals to Mail Sport that he was working through the summer to be in peak physical shape just in case a move such as this came off, and he would be ready to go.
Joao Pedro was right. ‘Chelsea had been interested in me for some time, but that never took my focus away from helping Brighton,’ he says.
‘When the season ended, even on vacation in Brazil, I knew something could happen, which is why I trained a lot physically.
The Brazilian striker spent three years at Watford, scoring 23 league goals in 104 appearances
His summer holiday ended early and he jetted off to Miami to have a quick signing photoshoot
The player claimed he will be ‘eternally grateful’ to Fluminense for what they did for his career
‘When everything was finalised, and I travelled straight to Miami to join the squad. I felt comfortable from the first moment, as everyone welcomed me very well.
‘I believe that having played in the Premier League for a long time and knowing the Chelsea squad well helped me quickly adapt to the tactical scheme and team chemistry.’
Maresca is already a big fan – and that admiration naturally grew after the double in East Rutherford, New Jersey, that sealed Chelsea’s trip back there on Sunday.
They had spoken before he joined up, to assure the Brazilian that Chelsea was the right place for him.
‘When the deal was close to happening, we had a quick conversation, and he gave me a lot of confidence,’ says Joao Pedro.
‘Once I joined the squad, I was able to better understand how the team played and how I could help in the best way possible. I tried to absorb the coach’s instructions as quickly as possible to help the team. I’m happy to have achieved that against Palmeiras and, especially against Fluminense, with the goals.’
The only hitch that might come is when Chelsea next get a penalty.
Cole Palmer is the immovable No 1 taker (despite what happened when Jackson and Noni Madueke got involved in a tetchy incident during a 6-0 win over Everton a year ago) but Joao Pedro has a formidable record of his own, scoring 18 of 19 in his career. ‘I’ve always liked taking penalties,’ he says.
The striker joined Brighton for £30m in 2023 and scored ten Premier League goals last season
The 23-year-old star has been capped for Brazil three times and is aiming for a World Cup spot
Pedro scored 10 goals in 36 senior appearances for his boyhood club before his departure
‘I think every forward does, since our main focus is scoring goals.
‘So, I train a lot to get better and better at it and make as few mistakes as possible during games. There’s no secret, just a lot of practice. That’s what gives you confidence and calmness during the game.’
And that confidence only grows with the knowledge he is frontrunner to be Brazil’s starting No 9 at next year’s World Cup, and hugely popular with his nation’s fans.
New head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will reportedly be at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, has him back in the setup and Joao Pedro won his third cap in March, as part of Ancelotti’s first squad.
The next dream is playing back at MetLife on July 11, 2026 – in the World Cup final. ‘Without a doubt, one of my biggest career goals is to be part of the Brazilian national team,’ he says. ‘But for that, I have to show at my club that I’m ready.
‘So, I have to do my part, which is to be 100 per cent physically and technically prepared and make good performances for my club. That’s what I have control over. Being called up or not is not within my control, but I will always do my best to increase the chances of that happening.’
