Former Chelsea forward Shaun Wright-Phillips has urged Joao Pedro to leave Stamford Bridge and join Barcelona.
Joao Pedro is enjoying an incredible debut campaign at Chelsea, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed. Barcelona have not only taken note, but they also seem quite keen on acquiring his services.
On the back of their interest, former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has advised the Brazilian international to force a move to Barcelona. He wants the 24-year-old to do everything he can to escape to the Spanish club, as he deserves better.
Wright-Phillips wants Joao Pedro to leave Chelsea
While speaking to Somos Fanaticos, the 44-year-old said via TEAMtalk, “I believe it would be fantastic for Joao if he were to go. Personally, given the way Chelsea has been run, if I were him, I would do everything to complete this transfer.
“Playing at Camp Nou, alongside Raphinha and [Lamine] Yamal, would be great for him. He would score many goals, since we have already seen what he did in a team that wasn’t as good as this Chelsea team.
“If I were Joao Pedro, I would want to play in the Champions League, and I can’t see Chelsea qualifying for any European competition. Joao has the level and deserves to be playing in the Champions League.”
Only a few weeks back, Chelsea were fighting for a top-four spot, but they have had such a drastic fall that they might end up missing out on European football altogether. They are currently ninth on the table with 48 points. The Blues are three points off the Conference League spot.
While the majority of their players have had a dip in form, Pedro has continued in a similar fashion. He scored an overhead kick against Nottingham Forest, taking his tally up to 20 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
Barcelona are keen on Joao Pedro
Given the kind of impact he has had in his first season at the club, quite a few European giants are now interested in his services. Barcelona are one of the clubs that are keen, as they consider him an ideal long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
With Chelsea unlikely to secure Champions League football, and no certainty around who their manager will be, Wright-Phillips feels Pedro should look for an escape. He should try to force a move to Barcelona, as that is what he deserves.
Given the manner in which Chelsea have been run in the recent past, there is no certainty of how long it might take before they are back at the top. As a result, a move to the Catalan giants could be in the best interest of the player.
However, it is unlikely to happen, as the Blues have no intentions of negotiating his departure. Barcelona have already made an enquiry as Deco is a long-term admirer of the 24-year-old, and they have been clearly informed that he is not for sale.