Football is in the blood of Joao Pedro. Cliched? Yes, undoubtedly – but no less true.
His father, Jose Joao de Jesus, better known as Chicao, was a star in itself on the Brazilian side Botafogo, a filthy, persistent defensive midfielder.
Loved by fans, Chicao – just like his son two decades later – was tipped for big things after he helped Botafogo at a Sao Paulo State Championship Final against Corinthians in 2021, but for him that trip was about to end up too abruptly.
The following year, however, Chicao's life and life of his family would change forever, because the Botafogo star was sentenced to 16-year prison because he was an accessory for murder.
Although it is thought that the mother of Joao Pedro, Flavia Junqueira, and Chicao was already separated, and he would only serve for eight years, you can imagine the impact that would have on a young boy who grew up.
Chicao showed repentance about his release, but is not supposed to have found another professional club after leaving prison at the age of 31.
“I have seen death several times face-to-face,” said Chicao. After his release from prison, he would appear in a TV program with a young Joao Pedro who plays in a playground.
“I made a mistake. I regret it. I thought about committing suicide. I am a good person. I know nobody has the right to take someone else's life.
“I never thought I would see the day that I could kick a ball with my son. I always dreamed about that day. '
He wasn't the only one either.
'I've always wanted to be on the field with my father. I'm going to achieve that, “said Joao Pedro, who would have been about eight at the time.
'My sister always wanted to play with him, and so do I. But we couldn't, because he was in prison. “
What started with a dream to share a pitch with his own father, with whom he is no longer in contact, started a journey that has now taken him to a clubworld cup champion and the newest star of Chelsea. But the tests and tests did not stop with the imprisonment of his father.
After the leading role in a youth tournament, he was noticed by scouts from Club Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, who reached the semi-final of the Club World Cup, but more about that later. With many other giants interested in the 10-year-old, Fluzao quickly moved to break him.
“I first met Joao Pedro when he was very young,” Eduardo Oliviera, his future coach at Fluminense, told the athletics in 2020.
'I was the technical coordinator of the Botafogo Youth System and he always played against our teams. I thought he was an extremely technical player, with a really good personality. He was someone who really shone in the lower age groups, to the level younger than 13. He noticed. '
However, there was a problem. Joao Pedro and his family lived in the city of Ribeiroo Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo, about 400 miles away from Rio de Janeiro, and his dream to become a professional football player at Fluminense.
In Ribeirao Preto the family was a bit more comfortable; The future Chelsea star went to a private school and they were able to rent out their house while trying to establish their new life, no matter how things changed when they moved to Xerem, Rio de Janeiro.
“We had a life without luxury, but we never missed anything when I lived Preto in Ribeirao,” Joao Pedro, 23, told Mail Sport. 'But we left everything behind the pursuit of the dream of becoming a player when Fluminense approved my move to the club's academy.
'In Xerem we shared the house with another boy and his mother. We went through a number of difficult financial times, moments when even food was scarce, where my mother would give up a meal so that I could eat better. '
When things reached the point of despair, there was nothing more left than his mother Flavia to give an emotional plea for Fluminense for help.
“In three hours I told my life story. I became emotional because we had no money for everything we needed, “said Flavia.
“The help created a friendship. It was fundamentally for everything that came after. I tell people that Fluminen people embrace because they have helped change our lives. '
If wrestling for meals was not bad enough, a growth spurt saw him struggling to produce his earlier fluency while he was used to the changes in his body.
At the moment it was that he gradually started moving from a deeper midfielder such as his father, Chicao, to an attacking midfielder, and finally a striker. And as soon as his rival for the No 9 shirt was promoted to the U20s, Joao Pedro took the opportunity to really show Fluminense what he could do.
“At that moment I saw a really focused child,” says Oliveira of the player who would score 38 goals in one season.
“I could imagine what went through his head:” Man, this is my big chance. I have been to the couch for two or three years, but now I have the chance to show what I can do '.
“He devoted himself completely. Every shot he made was on goal. I really noticed that because it is not easy to be so efficient for the goal. He would shoot in a way that the goalkeeper took out of the comparison.
'And when it comes to collective activities, his competitiveness seemed. He had a real will to win and he was able to transfer that to the other players. Those two aspects of his game – the finishing capacity and the positive influence that his attitude had on the group – were some impression on me. He was determined to improve. '
In addition to getting his chance to lead the border, it was the chance to see Tottenham Richarlison from close by, day in, day out, which inspired Joao Pedro to continue the hard work in the pursuit of his dream, especially when developing his weaker foot.
'Fluminense helped us enormously at the time, with financial and emotional support. Except that I trusted, believe in my development as a person, and my potential as a player, “Joao Pedro added to Mail Sport.
'I managed to reach the professional level, and from that moment everything happened in a very positive way in my life. That is why I am grateful to Fluminen. '
That gratitude was immediately clear after both his goals against his former side for Chelsea, who were drawn earlier this month in the semi -final of the Club World Cup.
Joao Pedro had only become with the blues six days earlier, but immediately became the newest Brazilian star that followed the 'Lei Do Ex' (Law of the Ex) – a rule that players always seem to score against their former clubs.
After both goals, however, his arms went straight up the air to apologize to the club that gave him everything. Joao Pedro had not forgotten how his life changed, and you would not imagine, he will soon be quick.
After he was scouted by European giants, Joao Pedro finally left Fluminense for Watford and left tears about his emotional farewell to the club that had given him everything. Even the toughest skeptic can see what the club means to him.
From Fluminense to Watford, Brighton and now Chelsea, only looking at Joao Pedro games, you are struck by the feeling that there is barely controlled energy in the young man.
In many ways it is what makes him so pleasant to look at; When Joao Pedro arranges that furious energy, he is capable of genius, which goes a long way to explain why Chelsea has splashed £ 60 million for his services.
You can almost see it bubbling under the surface, send him to magical moments, but if you learn a little from the journey he has been, it starts to make sense where that came from.
Born, the son of a former player in a country where dreams of being a football player are related to death and taxes in the only certainties of life, the path from Joao Pedro to the top was littered with sacrifices, setbacks and struggles.
His father went to prison, at 400 miles from his youth center, his mother gave up her meals to support him – the opportunities seemed to be stacked against Joao Pedro to realize that dream if it was no more than a good part of generosity and goodwill on the road.
But instead of wasting the opportunity that is given to him, this is a young man who is all too aware of what others have given him to realize his dream, and he is clear that he is bringing them back.