Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has given a lot of credence to Xabi Alonso’s bold claim that Joao Pedro plays like Karim Benzema. The Dutchman shared parallels between the Brazilian and the famous former Real Madrid striker.
Alonso, a former teammate of Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu, made the comparison ahead of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull City earlier this month. The Blues boss also said the 24-year-old is in the same rarefied bracket as Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland. Joao Pedro has scored three goals and provided three assists in four league appearances this season.
Hasselbaink said:
“I can understand that. I see similarities.
“They’re both really technical, really, really intelligent. They both can come into midfield and play. And they’re both really calm in front of the goal. So I can see similarities. Joao Pedro is not there yet. But I can see similarities.”
Benzema notably scored 354 goals in 14 seasons in the Spanish capital and won the Ballon d’Or in 2022. But Joao Pedro’s growing reputation is built on a solid body of work since his £60m switch from Brighton in 2025. The Brazilian scored 20 goals in 50 games in his first year at Stamford Bridge.
But he has been stopped in his tracks by a knee problem suffered in the game against Hull and was later withdrawn from the Brazil squad. Without him, Chelsea then endured a chastening 3-0 defeat at Brentford. He should be back in contention for the visit of Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge on October 10.
Hasselbaink Praises Emiliano Martinez’s Leadership Qualities at Chelsea
Hasselbaink also turned his attention to keeper Emiliano Martinez, who Chelsea prized from Aston Villa for a reported £7.5m this summer. The World Cup-winning Argentine arrived with a clear brief to shore up a defence that has repeatedly folded in recent seasons.
Chelsea’s defensive frailties are still obvious, with their run without a Premier League clean sheet now at 21 games. The Blues have shipped 10 goals in their last four games in all competitions. On the arrival of the goalkeeper from Villa Park, Hasselbaink said in the same interview:
“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.
“So obviously, he’s not played his best football yet. That is a combination of several things. Also the people in front of him. But I’m so happy that that kind of character has come into the building.”
Alonso will be hoping the international break provides the opportunity for his beleaguered defence to regain some of the solidity that has been missing so far.