Photo: Ronnie Macdonald / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has praised Danny Welbeck as one of the most important people in his life after the 35-year-old completed a move from Brighton to Chelsea last week.
Welbeck made his first appearance for the club in a pre-season friendly against Juventus on Wednesday, playing 45 minutes and linking up with several former team-mates, including Joao Pedro.
The pair first shared a dressing room at Watford during the 2019/20 season. Joao Pedro was 18 at the time, adjusting to life in England amid the Covid-19 pandemic and without the ability to speak English.
'Personally, Danny is a very important person for me in life,' Joao Pedro said. 'When I came to England, I didn't speak English, but he always tried to be around me to support me and help me develop.'
Wednesday's friendly marked the third time the pair have played together across Watford, Brighton, and now Chelsea. 'I think, as he did with me in the past, he will give support to everyone in the squad,' Joao Pedro added. 'Danny is this guy; he is very helpful and wants the best for everyone around him and for the team. Everyone knows that he is a top player.'
Midfielder Moises Caicedo, who also played alongside Welbeck at Brighton, echoed the sentiment. 'When he arrived here, I gave him a hug because I was so happy when he signed,' Caicedo said. 'As a player and as a person, Danny is top. He helped me a lot when I arrived at Brighton. He was so important for me and to have him here at Chelsea, it feels good.'
Welbeck's arrival reunites him with multiple former Brighton team-mates now at Stamford Bridge.