{"id":142351,"date":"2024-01-23T14:34:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T14:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/01\/23\/how-long-will-brighton-benefit-from-their-joao-factor\/"},"modified":"2024-01-23T14:34:22","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T14:34:22","slug":"how-long-will-brighton-benefit-from-their-joao-factor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/01\/23\/how-long-will-brighton-benefit-from-their-joao-factor\/","title":{"rendered":"How long will Brighton benefit from their Joao factor? \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roberto De Zerbi admits he had never heard of Joao Pedro a year ago.<\/p>\n
Pedro had made just 31 Premier League appearances prior to becoming Brighton\u2019s record signing, playing most of his football in the Championship with Watford and in Brazil with Fluminense.<\/p>\n
But the \u00a330million man is no stranger to his manager now after making an instant impression at the Amex Stadium.<\/p>\n
Ahead of Brighton\u2019s clash with Wolves this evening, we analyse what makes the 22-year-old such an exciting player.<\/p>\n
Sure-fire success<\/h2>\n
De Zerbi may have been in the dark \u2014 but Brighton\u2019s remarkable recruitment record meant Pedro was all but guaranteed to be a hit.<\/p>\n
Albion have signed some of the best players in the country for small fees from all over the globe so must have been sold on the Brazilian to pay such a hefty sum to another English club.<\/p>\n
And the versatile forward has made life on the South Coast look so straightforward that his boss is already pondering Brighton\u2019s future without him.<\/p>\n
De Zerbi said last month: \u201cHe is becoming a top player. I hope in the next year to work with him but it will be very tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Free role<\/h2>\nJoao Pedro picks up the ball all over the pitch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Pedro is not pinned down to one position, instead preferring to float across the frontline and into midfield to pick up the ball.<\/p>\n
And while his natural dribbling skills are his best attribute, they are not to the detriment of his final product.<\/p>\n
He is one of only three Premier League strikers to rank in the top 10 for completed take-ons and chances created.<\/p>\n
The fact Pedro has been fouled more often than any other top-flight centre forward also proves how difficult he is to knock off the ball.<\/p>\n
Instinct for goal<\/h2>\n
That combination play is what has edged him above Evan Ferguson in the pecking order at Brighton but Pedro is more than holding his own in the penalty area too.<\/p>\n
Despite drifting all over the pitch to receive possession, the Europa League top goalscorer also ranks third for touches in the box per 90 minutes in the top flight.<\/p>\n
And scoring 15 times this season, including six in Europe, is reward for his versatile approach.<\/p>\n
Eight of those strikes have been penalties but his open-play brace at Stoke in the FA Cup last time out showed off his ability to sniff out chances.<\/p>\nJoao Pedro has been flying in front of goal this season<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Killer mentality<\/h2>\n
After making his senior Brazil debut in November, it is clear Pedro has the game to develop into one of the best forwards in world football.<\/p>\n
But De Zerbi believes he must learn not to drift in and out of games before taking the next step.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI would like him to start the game at the beginning, not in the second half or after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for him, not for myself. To play at Brighton his performance is enough but to play at a higher level he has to play for 90 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pedro will aim to make another decisive contribution when he comes up against Wolves at the Amex Stadium tonight.<\/p>\n
![\"Joao](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/83d8ad01-b7c9-4dd5-946c-37c9f04433f4.png\")
![\"Joao](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/aac5a225-9bbd-40f7-93fa-387aaa72623c.png\")