Chelsea forward Joao Pedro made a surprising statement about his teammate Cole Palmer, claiming the English playmaker is the ideal candidate to become the heir to Neymar in the Brazil national team. Both players will spend the summer break away from the international stage after being left out of the 2026 World Cup squad. This is reported by Goal.com .
In an interview on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Pedro admitted that he initially doubted Palmer's talent but witnessed his skills firsthand during training at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian forward believes Palmer possesses the "magic" required to lead the five-time world champions.
"He is a very intelligent and magical player. I told him: 'I didn't think you were this good.' He looked at me in surprise. Now that I play with him, I realize his level is different. I said to him: 'Why don't you come to Brazil? The number 10 shirt would be yours.' Because Brazil doesn't have a player with that style right now. We play in a 4-2-4 formation and we are missing a true 'number 10'," said the 24-year-old forward.
Despite an excellent club season, both stars will watch the World Cup from home. Palmer's exclusion from the England squad came as a surprise to many. Thomas Tuchel explained his decision by citing the playmaker's lack of consistency at the international level. The German manager prioritized tactical discipline over Palmer's creativity.
Pedro faced a similar fate. Despite being named Chelsea's player of the season, Carlo Ancelotti did not include him in the squad. The Italian manager expressed regret over leaving the forward out, stating he preferred more experienced options and the return of Neymar.
Nevertheless, Pedro supported the philosophy implemented by Ancelotti. According to him, the coach focuses more on team strength than individual stardom. "He wants the whole group, not just one person. Because he believes the team is stronger than any individual. He has won everything, so the players listen to him," the Brazilian forward added.
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