{"id":10959,"date":"2026-05-19T22:16:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10959"},"modified":"2026-05-19T22:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:16:19","slug":"e75m-star-wants-to-leave-stamford-bridge-after-xabi-alonso-becomes-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10959","title":{"rendered":"\u20ac75m star wants to leave Stamford Bridge after Xabi Alonso becomes manager"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Chelsea striker Joao Pedro wants to leave for Barcelona in the summer transfer window and Xabi Alonso could let him go, according to a report, but Fabrizio Romano and BBC Sport have entirely different information about the Brazilian.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jo\u00e3o Pedro<\/strong> has been Chelsea\u2019s best player this season, with the Brazil international striker scoring 23 goals and giving nine assists in 52 matches in all competitions for the London club since joining them from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The striker has found the back of the net 15 times and given five assists in 30 starts and four substitute appearances for <strong>Chelsea<\/strong> this season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Barcelona<\/strong> are keen on signing Joao Pedro from Chelsea in the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Lewandowski is leaving Barcelona this summer, and the Spanish champions believe that Joao Pedro would be a suitable replacement for the Polish superstar.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Barcelona sporting director Deco has already held talks with Joao Pedro\u2019s representatives<\/strong>and, <em>AS<\/em> has revealed details of the meetings, claiming that the striker is \u2018keen\u2019 on a move to Spotify Camp Nou in a \u20ac75million (\u00a365m) deal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ: Boehly reacts after Alonso tells Chelsea to sign Mbappe as Real Madrid reach sale decision \u2013 report<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Joao Pedro wants to leave Chelsea for Barcelona<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The report has stated: \u2018Barcelona\u2019s sporting director, Deco, met this Thursday in London with representatives of the agency handling Joao Pedro\u2019s affairs.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018On the table was his potential signing for the Catalan club. Two simple messages emerged.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The 24-year-old Brazilian is keen to become a\u00a0Barcelona\u00a0player next season. The other, however, is that the mission is almost impossible.<\/p>\n<p><smartframe-embed customer-id=\"04742eb90cefa12a5e3ab9bae92c2b93\" image-id=\"neimuXsjvfkv\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 100%;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Beyond Barcelona\u2019s financial situation,\u00a0Chelsea\u00a0don\u2019t seem willing to let the Brazilian go just a year after signing him from\u00a0Brighton\u00a0for \u20ac65 million. His current market value is \u20ac75 million.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>Xabi Alonso<\/strong> has been appointed the new manager of Chelsea and will officially start work on July 1, with the Spaniard having parted company with Real Madrid in January.<\/p>\n<p>According to <em>AS<\/em>Alonso could sell Joao Pedro leave if he does not want to stay, with the publication adding: \u2018If, on the other hand, and acknowledging the problems he\u2019s had in Madrid, he doesn\u2019t want unhappy players, he could open the door for him\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE:\u00a0Xabi Alonso makes decision on Enzo Fernandez future at Chelsea amid astonishing Real Madrid claim<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Chelsea want to keep Joao Pedro<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>However, <em>BBC Sport<\/em> journalist <em>Nizaar Kinsella<\/em> wrote on <em>X<\/em> at 4:29pm on May 15: \u201cNot only is Joao Pedro considered not for sale, he is also understood to be happy at Chelsea \u2013 even if he is not satisfied with the club\u2019s current league position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe grew up watching the Premier League, which is why he chose Watford, and when he says it is a dream to play for Chelsea, he means it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBarcelona may admire him but are aware he is not a viable target and have other strikers in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has said that <strong>Chelsea have no plans to sell Joao Pedro to Barcelona<\/strong> this summer.<\/p>\n<p>Romano said about Joao Pedro on his <em>YouTube channel<\/em> on May 18: \u201cWhat I can tell you guys is that, despite the meeting, despite the contacts, because there is no doubt, and it\u2019s reality that Barcelona are having contacts with people close to Joao Pedro, because Barcelona like the player, because Barcelona love the player, and because Barcelona understand that the Julian Alvarez situation is completely blocked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Italian journalist added: \u201cSo, at the moment, the understanding is that, yes, Barcelona like Joao Pedro and had some conversations with those close to Joao Pedro is true, but at the moment, Chelsea position is very clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey want Joao Pedro to be an important part of the squad, not just for present as he is, but also for future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd they want Joao Pedro to be a crucial part of the squad, also under Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChelsea believe that Joao Pedro can be fantastic under Xabi Alonso, as he was already this season in a complicated season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey can imagine Joao can do even better with Xabi Alonso, and so that\u2019s Chelsea position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey absolutely want Joao Pedro to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: The 20 best footballers out of contract and available for free this summer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<p><script>\n        !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n        {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n        n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n       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