Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has expressed surprise over João Pedro’s exclusion from Brazil’s World Cup squad, insisting the Chelsea forward deserved a place based on his performances this season.
Speaking about the Brazilian attacker, Ferdinand praised João Pedro for what he described as an outstanding campaign in the Premier League despite Chelsea facing a difficult and pressure-filled season.
“I’ll be honest, when you look at the season João Pedro has had, I don’t think many people expected him to miss out on Brazil’s World Cup squad,” Ferdinand said.
According to the former England international, João Pedro has been one of the best forwards in the Premier League this season after scoring more than 20 goals for Chelsea.
Ferdinand noted that the Brazilian’s impact went beyond goals, highlighting his movement, creativity, energy and confidence in attack.
Chelsea endured an inconsistent season with constant pressure surrounding the club, but Ferdinand believes João Pedro stood out in difficult circumstances.
“If you score 20-plus goals in a Chelsea team that has had difficult moments and constant pressure all season, you deserve serious respect,” he added.
Ferdinand also explained why João Pedro’s nomination for the Premier League Transfer of the Season award was deserved.
He said adapting to life at Chelsea is never easy because of the high expectations and intense scrutiny players face every week.
“Chelsea is one of those clubs where every bad result becomes a crisis and every player is analysed every single week,” Ferdinand stated. “A lot of players struggle under that environment, but João Pedro embraced it.”
The former defender admitted that Brazil has several world-class attacking players, but insisted that current form should also play an important role in national team selections.
“That’s why Carlo Ancelotti’s decision surprised a lot of people,” Ferdinand said. “Based on form, João Pedro absolutely had a strong case to be on that plane.”
Despite missing out on selection, Ferdinand believes João Pedro has shown enough quality this season to prove he belongs at the highest level of football.
