Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro has shown some fantastic form for Chelsea this season(Image: Qin Zhicheng/VCG)
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is in agreement with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso regarding the similarities between Joao Pedro and Karim Benzema.
The Brazil international has been a revelation since moving from Brighton to the Blues in a £60million deal in the summer of 2024. Joao Pedro has kicked off this season with a bang as well, scoring three goals and assisting the same amount of times in four Premier League matches.
Earlier this month, Chelsea manager Alonso boldly compared the 24-year-old to the Spaniard's former Real Madrid teammate Benzema.
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Alonso 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 has a very strong goal this year: to have a great season, to score many goals, and to be a nominee for not just this month [Player of the Month award] but more months. I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao.
"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."
A bold statement to make from Alonso given Benzema's pedigree in the game, but one former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink agrees with.
Speaking to GOAL, the Dutchman 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 goal. So I can see similarities. Joao Pedro is not there yet, but I can see similarities."
Alonso will be hoping to have Joao Pedro back available for selection when Chelsea return to action on October 10. Bournemouth are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on that day and we await to see if the Brazilian will be fit after pulling out of his national squad due to a knee injury that saw him miss last week's 3-0 defeat to Brentford.