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  "path": "/2026/05/21/xabi-alonso-speaks-selling-three-chelsea-stars-including-joao-pedro-28459326/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-21T07:55:03.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Enzo Fernandez",
    "FC Barcelona",
    "FC Barcelona transfer news",
    "Joao Pedro",
    "Marc Cucurella",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Xabi Alonso",
    "it was confirmed that Alonso had been chosen to succeed Liam Rosenior",
    "Sign up now",
    "Club World Cup",
    "Champions League",
    "Sunderland",
    "Reece James and Co fell to a limp 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in this year’s FA Cup fina",
    "Fernandez and Cucurella both airing their frustrations – and seemingly agitating for moves – in recent weeks",
    "the Brazilian reportedly welcoming strong interest from La Liga champions Barcelona",
    "Madrid",
    "Chelsea",
    "@marcosbenito9",
    "pic.twitter.com/blk6Fml7tG",
    "May 20, 2026",
    "Real Madrid",
    "The Dressing Room Podcast",
    "Cole Palmer",
    "Moises Caicedo",
    "supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo",
    "Barcelona",
    "Mundo Deportivo",
    "could be prepared to agree a deal should they receive an offer in the region of €100m (£87m)",
    "which did not come to pass.",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@elchiringuitotv"
  ],
  "textContent": "Xabi Alonso could not provide any assurances over Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez or Marc Cucurella (Picture: El Chiringuito TV?\n\nXabi Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of Chelsea cashing in on Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez or Marc Cucurella when cornered by Spanish media this week, simply reassuring fans he would ‘make a good team’.\n\nChelsea put an end to weeks of speculation on Sunday as it was confirmed that Alonso had been chosen to succeed Liam Rosenior, with the ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder putting pen to paper on a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge.\n\nThe 44-year-old has been out of a job since his dismissal at the Bernabeu in the new year and will officially take over from Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane on July 1.\n\nAfter a desperately underwhelming season for the Blues, Alonso will be under no illusions about the size of the task that awaits him in west London.\n\n##  Love football?\n\nOur seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.\n\nThe Club World Cup holders’ Champions League qualification hopes have gone up in smoke after a miserable end to the campaign, with the side languishing down in eighth ahead of their final contest at Sunderland on Sunday.\n\nThere was further disappointment for supporters last weekend as Reece James and Co fell to a limp 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in this year’s FA Cup final at Wembley.\n\nOff the pitch, meanwhile, there is a growing sense of uncertainty surrounding the futures of several integral squad members in the lead-up to the summer transfer window, with Fernandez and Cucurella both airing their frustrations – and seemingly agitating for moves – in recent weeks.\n\nBarcelona are reportedly pursuing a deal for Chelsea forward Pedro (Picture: Getty)\n\nFernandez and Cucurella have made no secret of their frustrations with decisions being made at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)\n\nChelsea’s top goalscorer, Pedro, is another player who has become the subject of intense speculation, with the Brazilian reportedly welcoming strong interest from La Liga champions Barcelona.\n\nThe topic was put to Alonso as he was ambushed in the street by El Chiringuito TV’s Marcos Benito on Wednesday, a month-and-a-half out from his opening day in the job at Chelsea.\n\n##  Alonso's chat with El Chiringuito TV\n\n**EC:** Hi Xabi. How are you?\n\n**XA:** Good, good… everything’s fine.\n\n**EC:** We’ve seen you around Madrid, at your house… I imagine you’re already preparing for next season with Chelsea.\n\n**XA:** Yes… that’s right. We have to start working.\n\n**EC:** How are you? Congratulations, first of all…\n\n**XA:** Happy… I’m happy, yes.\n\n> ✅🔵 \"El CHELSEA es un PROYECTO BONITO, es MUY BUENA OPCIÓN\".😉 \"¿Rumores de salidas? Haremos un BUEN EQUIPO\".🚨 Xabi Alonso, EN EXCLUSIVA con @marcosbenito9. pic.twitter.com/blk6Fml7tG\n>\n> — El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 20, 2026\n\n**EC:** Did the option come up quickly? Yes… yes… it came up quickly. And it’s a very good option.\n\n**XA:** How did the Chelsea option come about?\n\n**EC:** Were you waiting for an offer or…?\n\n**XA:** Always open, and it’s a great project.\n\nAlonso was then directly asked about the incessant rumours surrounding Pedro, Fernandez and Cucurella, which he met with an intriguing response.\n\nHowever, the Spaniard was quick to shut down any questions about his tumultuous reign in charge of Real Madrid, keen instead to focus on the future.\n\n##  Alonso's chat with El Chiringuito TV\n\n**EC:** Chelsea has players that half of Europe wants. Joao Pedro, who Barça seems to be after, I imagine you won’t want to let him go. Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella…\n\n**XA:** Well… this is football, and we’ll make a good team.\n\n**EC:** And Real Madrid… just a few words?\n\n**XA:** No, no. I can’t tell you anything.\n\n\nWith Chelsea missing out on Champions League qualification, there is a real fear amongst the fanbase – and former players – that the club will be forced to sell top talent to make up for the lack of funds.\n\n‘I think they’re going to have to sell,’ ex-Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole said on the latest episode of The Dressing Room Podcast.\n\n‘Everything would have been set up in this five-year plan and year four, you’ve got to expect that they’ll be in the Champions League. So you’d say that there has to be some buying and selling.\n\n‘The noise coming out of BlueCo is that they will tweak it around. For me, that means you’re going to have to sell one of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, maybe Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo.’\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nOn Pedro, Cole went on: ‘Barcelona were apparently at the game [FA Cup final] watching him.\n\n‘I’m going to throw it out there, he’s the best number nine I’ve seen at Chelsea since Diego Costa.’\n\nAccording to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea ‘will not make it easy’ for Barcelona to sign Pedro – but could be prepared to agree a deal should they receive an offer in the region of €100m (£87m).\n\nIt’s claimed Barca first approached Pedro last month, but the Brazil international was focused on the end of Chelsea season and securing his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the World Cup – which did not come to pass.\n\nPedro’s current contract at Stamford Bridge is not due to expire until June 2033.\n\nPOLL\n\nPoll\n\n### Which player is most important to Chelsea?\n\n  * Joao PedroCheck\n\n  * Enzo FernandezCheck\n\n  * Marc CucurellaCheck\n\n\n\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Xabi Alonso speaks out on selling three Chelsea stars including Joao Pedro"
}