Xabi Alonso says ‘complete’ Chelsea star reminds him of Ballon d’Or winner | Football

Xabi Alonso has heaped praise on one of his Chelsea players, likening him to a former Real Madrid teammate and Ballon d’Or winner.

Chelsea have enjoyed a great start to the season under new manager Alonso, winning four of their opening five games across all competitions and only narrowly losing to champions Arsenal last week.

Their formidable attack has already notched up 16 goals, though they face a tricky test on Saturday, away to Hull City who are yet to concede the Premier League this season.

Cole Palmer and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers have earned plenty of plaudits but it is Joao Pedro who was recently voted Premier League Player of the Month for August.

The centre-forward, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Brighton last year in a transfer worth up to £60m, has scored twice and assisted two in the opening three league games.

Last season, Pedro was a rare bright spot in an otherwise awful campaign for the Blues, recording 20 goals and nine assists and was named Chelsea Player of the Season.

And Alonso believes the 24-year-old should already be considered among the best No.9s in the world like Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland.

‘If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I am sure that Joao is there. So I would rate him that way,’ the Chelsea manager said in his pre-match press conference.

‘He has been top. Not just football-wise, personality-wise. His maturity, his desire.

‘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 but more months.

‘I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao.’

The praise for Pedro did not stop there however, with Alonso positively comparing the Brazil international to one of the greatest centre-forwards of the last decade: Karim Benzema.

The pair were teammates at Real Madrid where the Frenchmen won four La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues across a 14-year spell, which culminated with him lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022.

‘In many things he reminds me of him,’ Alonso added, boldly tipping Pedro to emulate Benzema’s great success.

‘Because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to the left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete and he is intelligent.

‘He is still young. He still has things to develop. But he has many, many absolutely outstanding qualities.’

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