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Chelsea's Joao Pedro Compared to Karim Benzema by Xabi Alonso and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, has made a bold comparison between Joao Pedro and the former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema. This view is shared by Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who in an exclusive chat with GOAL highlighted four key traits the Brazilian striker shares with the French forward.

The Legacy of Karim Benzema

Benzema is often viewed as one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Having scored 354 goals during his 14 years at Real Madrid, he stood alongside other top forwards like Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Harry Kane. A former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema was part of the celebrated 'BBC' attack alongside Gareth Bale and won the Ballon d’Or in 2022. Currently a free agent after leaving Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal, Benzema set a high bar for strikers worldwide.

Joao Pedro’s Rise at Chelsea

Though still early in his career, Pedro has impressed since joining Chelsea from Brighton in 2025 for £60 million ($79 million). He reached 20 goals in his first season at Stamford Bridge, signaling promise under Alonso’s leadership.

Alonso’s Take on Pedro

Alonso praised Pedro's qualities, placing him among the Premier League’s elite forwards. He said, “If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that Joao is there, [Erling] Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.”He added, “In many things he reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete, he is intelligent. So yes, he is still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities that he has.”

Four Shared Traits Highlighted by Hasselbaink

The former Chelsea striker identified these similarities:

  • Technical ability: Both are highly skilled with the ball.
  • Intelligence: They read the game well and can drop into midfield effectively.
  • Calmness in front of goal: Neither rushes their finishing.
  • Versatility: Able to operate in multiple attacking roles.

Hasselbaink acknowledged that Pedro is not yet at Benzema’s level but sees clear parallels in their style and potential.

Chelsea’s Current Challenges and Key Signings

Pedro has scored three goals this season but has been sidelined recently due to a minor injury, which has affected Chelsea’s attacking flow alongside Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Defensively, the team has struggled, conceding 10 goals across their last four matches and earning only one point in their past three Premier League games.

To strengthen the defense, Chelsea signed World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5 million ($10 million). Hasselbaink commented on Martinez’s impact: “The goals haven’t stopped. But I’m very pleased that the character itself has come in. And it’s a World Cup winner. He stands there, he’s a big unit, he’s a leader. And you can’t have enough of those in your squad.”

Looking Ahead

With Pedro expected back for the October 10 match against Bournemouth, Chelsea hope to turn around their recent struggles and make a strong push in the season. Alonso’s trust in Pedro’s development suggests the striker will play a vital role moving forward.

  • Next fixture: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth, 10 Oct 2026, 17:00

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