World Cup exclusion gives Barcelona a major advantage
Barcelona and Deco are accelerating the move for Brazilian striker Joao Pedro from Chelsea. Joao Pedro didn’t get the call to the Brazilian squad for the 2026 World Cup, which gives Barcelona and Joao Pedro more time and convenience to discuss the potential transfer. Barcelona benefits from the player's World Cup exclusion, which prevents a sudden price increase.
Deco and Barcelona officials travel to London for talks
According to Gerard Romero, Deco, Bojan Krkić, and Barcelona's scouting director Joao Amaral are in London to further their efforts to get closer to Joao Pedro, but this move does not preclude the possibility of signing Julian Alvarez. Barcelona aims to avoid a situation where they pursue another player and miss out on backup options, as they did last year. Therefore, Sporting management has decided to expedite moves for both players simultaneously, prioritizing Julian Alvarez and Joao Pedro as a backup option.
Barcelona hope to lower Chelsea’s €100M asking price
As Barcelona accelerates talks early, it will give them time to pressure the club and player for a move in the case of both players. In the case of Joao Pedro, the only hurdle is his price; Chelsea could demand €100 million for the player, but Barcelona wants him for a reduced price. Barca expects Joao Pedro to push for a move with a lower price if the Catalans fail to secure the signature of Julian Alvarez in the summer.
