View: Flamengo’s Pedro could be ready for second spell in European football with Tottenham
Flamengo forward Pedro could be ready for his second crack at European football with Tottenham after a failed move to Fiorentina.
The 26-year-old made the switch from Brazil to Italy four years ago during the summer of 2019 however things did not go to plan for the Brazillian.
Just three months into his time with Fiorentina he was sent out on loan to Flamengo in a move which would eventually become permanent. In total, he made just four appearances in the Serie A and failed to score once with the transfer perhaps coming slightly too early in his career.
Since his return to Brazil, he has been sensational, scoring 93 goals and providing 23 assists in 190 appearances for Flamengo.
And now could be the perfect time for him to return to Europe as he approaches the prime years of his career with the Premier League a potential destination.
That is according to the Independent which has reported online (19 July) that the North London club are considering a move for the Copa Libertadores winner.
If Daniel Levy is to splash the cash on the forward it would be a risky move, however, one with plenty of potential upside, as the stats suggest.
As per FBREF, during the Copa Libertadores group stages – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – Pedro has been one of the standout performers.
The competition is still going on and Flamengo have finished second in their group, putting them through to the Round of 16 where they will face Olimpia over two legs, and their success is largely down to Pedro’s bright performances
Throughout the tournament so far, Pedro has scored three goals in six appearances (0.66 goals per 90), placing him in the top 20 per cent of the competition’s goalscorers. His 0.22 assists per 90 also puts him in the top 20 per cent in regard to this particular statistic.
His pass completion rate of 79.8 per cent ranks him in the top 12 per cent of his positional peers playing in the prestigious tournament and his 1.33 passes into the penalty area per 90 puts him in the top seven per cent.
These stats demonstrate the dynamic forward’s skill set and the ability he possesses to hurt teams in front of goal alongside as a creator.
His form in Brazil’s 2023 Serie A, in which he scored four goals in 12 appearances, also suggests he could be a good forward for Ange Postecoglou’s system.
This is due to his impressive defensive numbers with the Australian keen on a high-pressing style. Pedro made 0.41 tackles per 90 in the attacking third, placing him in the top ten per cent of his positional peers in the competition and demonstrating his ability to defend high up the pitch.
He also made 0.55 interceptions per 90, placing him in the top six per cent of Brazillian league forwards and would block 0.69 passes per 90.
Of course, these numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt considering the superior quality of European football compared to the sport in South America. However, Pedro’s numbers are still impressive and although it didn’t work out in Italy for him, now could be the right time for the forward to test himself in England.
In other Tottenham news, the club are set to make a signing for the future.