Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has publicly encouraged Joao Pedro to pursue a transfer to Barcelona, citing the Spanish club’s potential for Champions League football as a significant draw. The comments came as Barcelona expressed initial interest in the Chelsea forward, though their enquiry was reportedly rebuffed by the Blues.
Chelsea are currently ninth in the Premier League, facing an increasingly uncertain prospect of European qualification for next season. This downturn in form has led Wright-Phillips to believe that Pedro, who has enjoyed a relatively consistent season with 15 league goals and eight assists, deserves to play at a higher level. He told Somos Fanaticos that Pedro should “do everything” to secure a move to Camp Nou.
Wright-Phillips highlighted the potential benefits of playing alongside Barcelona’s attacking talents, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, suggesting Pedro would thrive in a more competitive environment. He believes Pedro’s goalscoring record demonstrates his ability to succeed, even exceeding his current output within a stronger team.
However, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have firmly rejected Barcelona’s initial approach for Pedro, indicating they have no intention of selling the Brazilian. Sporting director Deco has long admired the player and conducted background checks, but the club’s stance remains resolute. Barcelona are now reportedly focusing on alternative targets, including Goncalo Ramos, Dusan Vlahovic, and Julian Alvarez. Pedro joined Chelsea in 2023, and has become a key player in their attack. The club’s unwillingness to sell suggests they view him as integral to their future plans, despite their current struggles.
This firm rejection from Chelsea effectively ends Barcelona’s pursuit of Pedro for the time being, forcing them to explore other options to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season.
