Chelsea forward João Pedro made an emotional gesture during Tuesday's Club World Cup semi-final match, asking Fluminense fans to forgive him after scoring against his boyhood club.
The Brazilian striker opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 18th minute of the encounter before raising his hands in a pleading gesture toward Fluminense supporters, acknowledging his deep connection to the Brazilian club where he began his professional career.
Fluminense holds special significance for Pedro, who started his senior career with the Brazilian side in 2019 before moving to Watford in 2020. His journey then took him to Brighton in 2023, and this summer he joined Enzo Maresca's Chelsea squad.
The goal proved crucial as Chelsea secured their place in the Club World Cup final. Reports indicate Pedro scored twice during the match, demonstrating his value to the London club while facing the team that gave him his professional start.
Chelsea's victory sets up what promises to be an exciting final in the 2025 Club World Cup tournament, where they could potentially face either Real Madrid or PSG, both formidable opponents on the global stage.
The match was particularly significant as Chelsea had reportedly suffered setbacks ahead of the fixture, with Thiago Silva, another former Fluminense player, issuing warnings to his Chelsea teammates about the challenge posed by the Brazilian side.
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