Joao Pedro reflects on his early career in Brazil by becoming the latest Chelsea player to take on the quick-fire questions in our regular series...
The 24-year-old entered the organised game at a young age, joining the youth system at his local second-division team in the state of Sao Paulo. He then moved to the capital, Rio de Janeiro, where he took his first steps into professional football.
And [Joao Pedro](/en/teams/profile/joao-pedro) shares his memories of those early years by answering our questions on his footballing firsts...
**What's the first kit you ever had as a kid?**
I think it was the club from my city, Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto, where I started in the academy when I was four years old. That was the first shirt I remember having. They were the traditional team from my city, that’s why I started there. It’s not a really big club, but it’s the big club from my city.
**What’s the first team you remember playing for?**
I started there with that club. It is a very traditional club in my city; everybody from there wants to play for them one day as a professional. I didn’t get to play for them, but it was good to spend a few years there.
**Who was the first coach you remember giving you advice?**
When I was young, I remember one coach from Fluminense who gave me a lot of confidence in the games, so it was very good to have him at that time. When you have a coach who makes you feel confidence from him, I think you are more ready to play the games. I needed that when I was that age.
**
Who was your first room-mate you remember on away trips when you turned professional?**
It was Marcos Paulo. We used to play together in the academy at Fluminense. Now he plays in Brazil for Juventude, but he was at Atletico Madrid before. We spent a lot of time together because we came through the academy and went to the first team together. I still speak to him and we play Pro Clubs on EA FC, so it’s very good.
**How well do you remember your professional debut?**
My first professional game was for Fluminense against Volta Redonda. In Brazil we have these small tournaments for each region, so it was in that. I was on the bench for the game, but I came on and I gave an assist in my first appearance for the professional team. It was for \[Roger\] Ibanez, I think he plays in Saudi Arabia now for Al-Ahli. I remember it well, because it was my professional debut.
**When did you score your first professional goal?**
My first goal was against Flamengo in Maracana, a header for Fluminense. Igor Julio was the right-back at that time and he crossed the ball in and I scored. That made it 3-2, but we couldn’t get another goal, so unfortunately we lost.
**Can you remember the first time someone recognised you in public?**
In the academy when I had a good season in the Under-17s, I think I scored like 35 goals, or maybe 39. Then the club media started to post me more, so people started to come to the games and I started to get recognised then.