Like Benzema & as good as Haaland - Alonso on Joao Pedro

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised striker Joao Pedro, saying he is similar in style to his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema and at a comparable level to Manchester City's Erling Haaland. The 24-year-old Brazil international has scored 25 goals since joining Chelsea at the beginning of last season, including one in a Club World Cup final success. Pedro was named the Premier League's Player of the Month for his first three games of the season, beating out team-mate Cole Palmer. When asked if Pedro could be compared to Haaland, Alonso said 'yes'. If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I'm sure that Joao Pedro is there, Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way. Joao Pedro signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge last month to stay until 2034, and was handed Chelsea's number nine shirt at the start of the season. He became the club's first striker since Diego Costa to score 20 goals in a single season during his debut campaign and has struck 25 times and had 11 assists in 57 matches since joining last summer. In his last 57 matches for City, Haaland has 42 goals and supplied nine assists. Unlike Haaland, who is a specialist goalscorer, Pedro has played as a midfielder, number 10 and winger during his career and possesses a more rounded skillset. Alonso, who made 195 appearances alongside former Ballon d'Or winner Benzema at Real Madrid, said there were also similarities between the Frenchman and Pedro. In many things he reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent. So yes, he is still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities that he has. Benzema, now 38 and a free agent, has scored 523 goals in 994 appearances for France, Lyon, Real Madrid and Saudi Arabian sides Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal.