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João Pedro has come onto Barcelona’s radar, and this is no impulsive move. On the contrary, the Chelsea forward, alongside Julian Alvarez, forms the two-player shortlist favored by Deco to strengthen the club’s No.9 position during the upcoming transfer window.
Barcelona is in search of a world-class, prolific center forward capable of filling the role currently occupied by Robert Lewandowski. To achieve this objective, the club acknowledges the necessity of substantial investment—not only to demonstrate its financial recovery, but also to send a clear signal to the market and reaffirm its status as an elite force in world football.
Several months ago, Hansi Flick and Deco jointly outlined the prototype of an ideal No.9 player within Barcelona’s current high-standard football system. Beyond exceptional finishing ability, other qualities are deemed essential: mobility, link-up play, a comprehensive understanding of the game, and equally important, respect for the established hierarchy within the squad.
Lamine Yamal serves as the cornerstone of Barcelona’s future plans. Any new signing, particularly attacking players, must accept that they are joining to serve the collective interest rather than create internal conflicts. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to the recent events surrounding Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid.
In recent months, João Pedro has been shortlisted alongside Alvarez. He is one of the few players who has maintained consistent performances amid Chelsea’s recent turmoil. Since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion during the Club World Cup, he has quickly integrated into the team and made an immediate impact.
He made his debut in that tournament and played a crucial role in the title-winning campaign without needing any adaptation period. Notably, he scored against Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain in the final—a PSG side at their peak, having just claimed their first-ever Champions League trophy.
Deco has been quietly and discreetly working on this transfer plan. He has been aware of the player since his early days in the Premier League and has spoken highly of him. Additionally, Deco has personally scouted the player during several visits to England. The club firmly believes that he possesses the "Barcelona DNA" and all the attributes needed to truly thrive at the Camp Nou, where he is expected to reach greater athletic and commercial heights than what Chelsea can offer.
The club has established contact with the Brazilian player’s entourage, who is set to represent the Seleção under Carlo Ancelotti at the upcoming World Cup. Barcelona has expressed its transfer interest to his agent team, and several meetings have taken place between the two parties over the past 45 days.
The player remains fully focused on Chelsea’s challenging final phase of the season. However, despite his significant contributions, he has been unable to turn the tide for the inconsistent team. After suffering their sixth consecutive defeat, Chelsea has been eliminated from next season’s Champions League. He is now channeling all his energy into the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
João Pedro’s attacking statistics are impressive: he has scored 20 goals so far this season (15 in the Premier League, setting a new personal single-season record) and provided 9 assists. This campaign has seen him make remarkable progress both in his finishing ability and tactical understanding of the game.
At just 24 years old, he is still in a phase of continuous development with immense room for growth, far from reaching his full potential. His career is on an upward trajectory. In this regard, his characteristics differ significantly from those of Alvarez, who is already an established center forward with a solid career foundation and a World Cup winner with Argentina.
A key advantage for João Pedro in the final selection process is that his transfer fee is expected to be lower than Alvarez’s. His price tag is projected to fall between €80 million and €100 million. In contrast, Atlético Madrid is likely to value Alvarez at €150 million and will not consider selling him for less than €100 million.
