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Barcelona are betting on the Chelsea star to replicate the success achieved when Rafinha joined the Catalan outfit from Leeds United in the summer of 2022.
Barcelona sporting director Deco, who will not forget his time at Chelsea, believes Premier League players have added value in his current role as an administrative official.
Deco believes that the physicality, speed of execution and intensity of competition found in English football are very positive factors for a team like Barcelona, which is still under construction.
When Deco was an agent, he brought Rafinha to Barcelona, and after taking over the sporting directorship, he tried to sign Luis Diaz, Bruno Guimaraes and Douglas Luiz, and agreed to a loan for Rashford.
“Sport” newspaper reported that “Chelsea” striker Joao Pedro is one of the English Premier League players whom Deco greatly admires.
Joao Pedro, along with Atletico Madrid star Julián Alvarez, has emerged as one of the most prominent candidates on a shortlist that includes several names to strengthen Barcelona’s attacking lines.
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Notable numbers support Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro is getting a lot of attention in Barcelona due to his talent and he is still a young player as he will turn 25 next September and he has a big development gap as he has not yet reached his peak or full football maturity.
In this context, “Barcelona” takes Rafinha’s experience as a reference, because it is a successful experience.
Barcelona signed Rafinha in the summer of 2022, when he was 25 years old, and he was not only one of the best right-wingers in the Premier League, but also an international player for the Brazilian national team.
Rafinha’s form exploded under Hansi Flick at Barcelona, and last season he produced numbers that made him a Ballon d’Or candidate, and he became one of the team’s leaders as well.
Joao Pedro’s stock is constantly rising. After spells with Watford and Brighton, he put up a string of good numbers in his first season with Chelsea, despite the earthquake caused by the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Joao Pedro has scored 20 goals and 9 assists in 47 matches in the current season.
Similarities with Rafinia
Although Pedro plays for a club as ambitious as Chelsea, he lives in a situation similar to Rafinha’s at Leeds, where he doesn’t get as much media attention and perhaps doesn’t have the same public recognition as other players.
But the Barcelona environment could give him a global status that matches his talent and expected ability to develop.
Rafinha cost “Barcelona” 58 million euros, a deal that the club considers completely successful. As for the signing process for Joao Pedro, it could range between €80m and €100m, according to Barcelona’s estimates, a wide negotiating margin that may not be available to Atletico Madrid, who are hoping to get more than €120m for Alvarez.
