THE flame that fuels Joao Pedro’s drive to succeed is the feeling of being underrated, the constant perception of being the underdog.
The Chelsea striker came through the academy at Fluminense, where, at just ten years old, he was a defensive midfielder.
He dominated the role and scored so many goals that his manager eventually asked him to play as a striker.
Pedro admitted early on after joining Chelsea: “I played as a midfielder when I was in the academy, but I was number 10. One day, the coach asked me if I could try defensive midfield, and I started to train there sometimes.”
Pedro only managed 37 games for Fluminense’s first team, but his performances were so impressive that even current Brazil team-mate Andre – now at Wolves – had to change his position to accommodate him.
He left Fluminense for Watford at just 18, and there were doubts about whether he could make it in English football.
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Alexandre Lozetti, who covered Fluminense when Pedro broke through, told SunSport: “When he left, we had doubts he could cope because he was so young. In Brazil, we’ve seen many young players leave and never make it.
“I have to add that the fear wasn’t just about the club he was joining, it was about how he’d cope if things didn’t go well.”
But Pedro had a plan. Unlike most kids who move abroad, he brought his entire family with him. He didn’t speak the language, but he had done his research.
He knew that if he could recreate the environment he had in Sao Paulo, he’d have a real chance of succeeding. So when he moved to Watford, he set everything up to feel just like Fluminense.
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Dan Gosling, who played with Pedro at Watford, told SunSport exclusively: “From day one, we got along.
“I liked what he did. Normally, people move light and settle before bringing others, but he brought everyone from the start. He made sure he had the people he needed around him.
“We called him ‘the superstar’ in the dressing room because you could just tell, even in training, that it wouldn’t be long before he’d be playing in the Champions League.”
Pedro spent three seasons at Watford. There were highs and lows as the club bounced between the Championship and Premier League.
But one thing was clear, he was a gem, a star who had arrived in Watford prepared for the challenges of English football and handled them all impressively.
His talent and temperament from the moment he arrived meant that Brighton were willing to break their transfer record to sign him.
The Seagulls agreed a £30million fee, a bold move for a 21-year-old who had mostly played in the Championship.
But Brighton knew exactly what they were doing. Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall recalls Pedro’s arrival and development.
He said: “From day one, he was a happy kid with a football brain.
“In the last decade, I’ve seen a lot of players come and go, but he was genuinely special.
“He operated at a different level than most . We knew he’d be even better surrounded by top players, that’s why we brought him in.
“He has this rare calmness under pressure, you can see it in the way he takes penalties. Pressure doesn’t seem to faze him.
“The only thing I’ll say is, he needs to control his temper when things don’t go his way.”
Top players have that fire. They take things personally, and that edge often drives them. So, when Chelsea came calling, it felt like a perfect match.
Pedro cut short his holiday to move to Stamford Bridge, and what an impact he’s had. He’s helped take the team to a new level.
His instant impact even reshaped Chelsea’s transfer strategy. His arrival and performances led the club to consider letting Nicolas Jackson leave.
But Pedro has been clever and composed in how he’s handled himself. When he arrived at Chelsea, the first thing he said wasn’t about competition, it was about collaboration.
He said: “Cole [Palmer] is a superstar. When I came to Chelsea, I was a little scared about how he’d react, because I was the main guy at Brighton. I knew Chelsea would be different. I said: ‘Cole, I’m here to help you.’”
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The last few games have been tough for Chelsea. The Club World Cup honeymoon is over, and goals are needed.
If Joao Pedro can now rediscover his best form, Chelsea may have finally found their long-awaited Brazilian number 9.
