Football is in Joao Pedro’s blood. Cliched? Yes, undoubtedly – but no less true.
His father, Jose Joao de Jesus, more commonly known as Chicao, was a star in his own right at Brazilian side Botafogo, a scrappy, tenacious defensive midfielder.
Loved by fans, Chicao – much like his son two decades later would be – was tipped for big things after helping Botafogo to a Sao Paulo state championship final against Corinthians in 2021, but for him that journey was about to end all too abruptly.
The following year, though, Chicao’s life and the lives of his family, would change forever, as the Botafogo star was handed a 16-year prison sentence for being accessory to murder.
Though it is thought that Joao Pedro’s mother, Flavia Junqueira, and Chicao had already separated, and he would serve only eight years, you can imagine the impact that would have on a young boy growing up.
Chicao showed contrition on his release, but is not believed to have ever found another professional club after leaving prison at 31.
Joao Pedro joined Chelsea for £60million and helped them to win the Club World Cup in July
The 23-year-old scored three in three games after signing midway through the competition
It marked the greatest success so far in a career that has been beset by setbacks and sacrifice
‘I’ve seen death face-to-face several times,’ Chicao said. After his release from prison, he would appear on a TV programme with a young Joao Pedro playing in a playground.
‘I made a mistake. I regret it. I thought about committing suicide. I’m a good person. I know that no one has the right to take someone else’s life.
‘I never thought I’d see the day when I could kick a ball around with my son. I always dreamed about that day.’
He wasn’t the only one, either.
‘I have always wanted to be on the pitch with my dad. I’m going to achieve that,’ said Joao Pedro, who would’ve been about eight at the time.
‘My sister always wanted to play with him, and so did I. But we couldn’t, because he was in prison.’
What started with a dream to share a pitch with his own father, who he is not thought to be in contact with anymore, started a journey that has now taken him to a Club World Cup champion and Chelsea’s latest star striker. But the trials and tribulations did not stop with his father’s incarceration.
After starring in a youth tournament he was spotted by scouts from Rio de Janeiro-based club Fluminense, who reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup – but more on that later. With plenty of other giants interested in the 10-year-old, Fluzao moved fast to snap him up.
The Chelsea star’s father, Jose Joao de Jesus was a player in his own right, but was given a 16-year prison sentence which derailed his football career
He told a television programme that when his dad was in prison, all he wanted to do was play football with him
Joao Pedro has already helped Chelsea win the Club World Cup – his first international trophy
Fluminense moved quickly to snap up the youngster with other Brazilian sides interested
‘I first encountered Joao Pedro when he was very young,’ Eduardo Oliviera, his future coach at Fluminense, told The Athletic back in 2020.
‘I was the technical coordinator of the Botafogo youth system, and he used to play against our teams. I thought he was an extremely technical player, with a really good personality. He was someone who really shone in the lower age groups, up to under-13 level. He stood out.’
However, there was a problem. Joao Pedro and his family lived in the city of Ribeirao Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo, about 400 miles away from Rio de Janeiro, and his dream of becoming a professional footballer at Fluminense.
In Ribeirao Preto, the family were somewhat more comfortable; the future Chelsea star went to a private school, and they could rent out their home while they tried to establish their new life, however things changed when they moved to Xerem, Rio de Janeiro.
‘We had a life without luxuries, but we never lacked anything when I lived in Ribeirao Preto,’ Joao Pedro, 23, told 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.’
As things reached the point of desperation, there was nothing left but for his mother Flavia to make an emotional plea to Fluminense for help.
‘In three hours, I told my life story. I got emotional because we didn’t have money for everything we needed,’ Flavia said.
Fluminense were quick to help out when his mother revealed the family were struggling
His mother spoke for three-hours to the Brazilian giants about the family’s plight in Xerem
Joao Pedro came through the ranks at Fluminense before leaving for Watford and Europe
‘The help created a friendship. It was fundamental for everything that came after. I tell people that Fluminense embrace people, because they helped to change our lives.’
If struggling for meals wasn’t bad enough, a growth spurt saw him struggle to produce his previous fluency as he got used to the changes in his body.
It was at this time that he gradually began to move from a deeper-lying midfielder like his father, Chicao, to an attacking midfielder, and at last a striker. And once his rival for the No 9 shirt was promoted to the U20s, Joao Pedro took the opportunity to really show Fluminense what he could do.
‘At that moment, I saw a really focused kid,’ says Oliveira of the player who would score 38 goals in one season.
‘I could imagine what was going through his head: ‘Man, this is my big chance. I’ve been on the bench for two or three years, but now I have the chance to show what I can do’.
‘He dedicated himself completely. Every single shot he took was on target. That really caught my eye, because it’s not easy to be so efficient in front of goal. He would shoot in a way that took the goalkeeper out of the equation.
‘And when it came to collective activities, his competitiveness shone through. He had a real will to win, and he was able to transfer that to the other players. Those two aspects of his game — the finishing ability and the positive influence his attitude had on the group — were what impressed me. He was determined to improve.’
As well as finally getting his opportunity to lead the line, it was the chance to watch Tottenham star Richarlison up close, day in, day out, that inspired Joao Pedro to continue the hard work in pursuit of his dream, particularly in developing his weaker foot.
Watching Richarlison every day in training was key in Joao Pedro’s development and saw him learn to develop both feet
Joao Pedro admitted that he is ‘eternally grateful’ for the care given to him by the Brazilian side
‘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,’ Joao Pedro added to Mail Sport.
‘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.’
That gratitude was immediately evident after both of his goals against his former side for Chelsea, who were drawn in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup earlier this month.
Joao Pedro had only joined the Blues six days earlier, but immediately became the latest Brazilian star to follow the ‘Lei do Ex’ (law of the ex) – a maxim that players always seem to score against their former clubs.
After both goals, though, his arms went straight up into the air to apologise to the club that gave him everything. Joao Pedro hadn’t forgotten how his life changed, and nor, you’d imagine, will he any time soon.
After being scouted by European giants, Joao Pedro finally left Fluminense for Watford, shedding tears at his emotional farewell from the club who had given him everything. Even the harshest sceptic can see what the club means to him.
From Fluminense to Watford, Brighton and now Chelsea, just watching Joao Pedro play you’re struck by the feeling that there is a barely-controlled energy in the young man.
In many ways, it is what makes him so enjoyable to watch; when Joao Pedro controls that furious energy, he is capable of genius, which goes a long way to explaining why Chelsea splashed out £60million for his services.
He was twice on the scoresheet as Chelsea bulldozed past his former club Fluminense
After both his goals against Fluminense Joao Pedro was quick to hold his hands up in apology
You can almost see it bubbling away beneath the surface, powering him towards magical moments, but when you learn a little of the journey he has been on, it begins to make sense just where that came from.
Born the son of a former player in a country where dreaming of becoming a footballer is akin to death and taxes in life’s sole certainties, Joao Pedro’s path to the top was littered with sacrifices, setbacks and struggles.
His father going to prison, moving 400 miles from his childhood home, his mother giving up her meals to support him – the odds seemed to be stacked against Joao Pedro from realising that dream, were it not for more than a fair share of generosity and goodwill along the way.
But rather than waste the opportunity bestowed upon him, this is a young man all too aware of what others have given up for him to achieve his dream, and he is clearly hell bent on paying them back.
