Michael Owen has said Manchester United missed an opportunity by not pursuing Joao Pedro, describing himself as a big admirer of the forward and suggesting the Red Devils should have moved for him before Chelsea got there first.
Impressive First Season at Stamford Bridge
Pedro completed a £60 million switch from Brighton to Chelsea roughly a year ago, and despite a difficult overall campaign for the club, the 24-year-old Brazilian quickly made his mark. He established himself as Chelsea’s go-to centre-forward, edging out fellow new arrival Liam Delap for a starting role, and ended the season with 20 goals across all competitions — a haul that marked him out as one of the club’s few bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming year.
Owen’s comments highlight how highly rated Pedro has become since leaving Brighton, with United, among other top clubs, apparently having failed to move quickly enough to secure his signature.
Eyes on a Fresh Start Under Alonso
The forward is also believed to still be feeling the sting of being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad, and will be hoping to put that disappointment behind him as he begins a new chapter under incoming Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso. His season starts with a London derby against Fulham in a week’s time.
Chelsea’s task is made somewhat easier this season by the absence of European commitments after finishing tenth in the Premier League last term, meaning Alonso can concentrate solely on domestic competitions as he looks to build his squad and philosophy without the added strain of a midweek continental schedule.
Whether United will look to test Chelsea’s resolve for Pedro’s services in the future remains to be seen, but for now, Owen’s remarks add to the growing sense that his move to Stamford Bridge has already proven to be shrewd business.