João Pedro Breaks Silence on Brighton Exit, Citing Tactical Clashes and Lack of Support from New Manager Fabian Hürzeler as Core Reasons for Departure
João Pedro has finally broken his silence regarding his sudden and highly-discussed departure from Brighton & Hove Albion, pointing directly to tactical disagreements and what he described as a “lack of support” from newly-appointed manager Fabian Hürzeler as the central reasons for his decision to leave the Premier League side. The Brazilian forward, who only arrived at the club a year earlier in a marquee move from Watford, spoke emotionally and with clarity in an in-depth interview that has since captivated fans and pundits across England, Brazil, and beyond.
“I felt like I was building something meaningful at Brighton,” João Pedro began, speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. “I had my moments. I gave everything. But when the new manager arrived, I no longer felt I had a place there. Not because of my performances, but because I was no longer seen as important to the system.”
João Pedro’s time at Brighton had started with immense promise. Signed for a then-club record fee of around £30 million in the summer of 2023, the Brazilian attacker was seen as the next exciting piece of Brighton’s ever-evolving project. Having lit up the Championship with Watford, scoring 11 goals in his final season, his transition to the Premier League was seen as both a challenge and an opportunity. Under Roberto De Zerbi, João Pedro was given the freedom to operate between the lines, drop deep to link play, and surge forward into scoring positions. He wasn’t a traditional number 9, nor a pure 10—he floated in that hybrid space where creative attackers thrive.
And thrive he did, at least for a time. João Pedro finished his first season with Brighton with 10 goals in all competitions, and although injuries disrupted his rhythm midway through the campaign, he remained a key part of De Zerbi’s attacking plans. The Italian coach was publicly effusive about the young forward’s potential, often praising his “courage on the ball” and “intelligent movement.” Brighton fans quickly took to João Pedro’s flair and determination. His goals, his celebrations, and his energy made him an instant fan favourite at the Amex Stadium.
But the landscape changed dramatically in the summer of 2025. Roberto De Zerbi, following months of tension with the Brighton hierarchy over transfers and club vision, departed his post. The Seagulls, maintaining their track record of left-field appointments, moved swiftly to hire Fabian Hürzeler, the 31-year-old German coach who had just led FC St. Pauli to promotion in Germany. Hürzeler’s youth, tactical flexibility, and data-driven coaching attracted admiration from Brighton’s boardroom, but for some players, it became clear early on that the transition would not be seamless.
“In the first meeting we had with the new coaching staff, I didn’t feel a connection,” João Pedro said. “There was no conversation about my role, no feedback about what I had done before. It was like starting over, and not in a good way. I wasn’t asked how I felt or what I needed to improve. It was just, ‘This is the system. Fit into it.’”
According to João Pedro, the tactical demands placed on him under Hürzeler were drastically different from what he was used to—and from what he believed suited his strengths. Under De Zerbi, Brighton’s play was built around short combinations, patient buildup, and positional rotations. João Pedro would often start centrally but drift to the left, combining with Kaoru Mitoma or Pascal Groß, and arriving late into the box. Hürzeler, by contrast, implemented a much more rigid and vertically-oriented structure. Pressing in coordinated blocks, high-intensity recoveries, and quick transitions became the foundation. It was a system that required the forwards to run constantly, to press, to sacrifice.
“I am not afraid to work hard,” João Pedro insisted. “But when you are asked to become something you are not, every day becomes a battle. I was being turned into a runner, someone who chased full-backs and closed passing lanes. That’s part of the game, sure—but when that becomes all you do, you lose yourself.”
The Brazilian forward’s frustrations deepened as preseason training under Hürzeler intensified. Though he participated professionally, Pedro recalled being left out of key tactical drills and noticing that other players were being positioned as central to the manager’s plans. “I didn’t feel wanted anymore. And when a player doesn’t feel valued, it affects everything—your focus, your energy, your confidence.”
At one point, João Pedro said he approached members of the coaching staff for a private conversation, hoping to clarify his role or receive feedback. But the response, he claims, was cold. “They told me, ‘We need players who can adapt. The system is bigger than individuals.’ And maybe that’s true for them. But I am still young, still learning. I need a coach who believes in me, not just one who sees me as a number on a tactics board.”
These interactions began to wear João Pedro down mentally. Despite maintaining a professional front in public, he admitted privately struggling with the lack of connection. “Every day, I woke up feeling less excited to go to training. That’s when I knew something was wrong. Because I love football. I love working. But I couldn’t see a future there anymore.”
The breaking point reportedly came during a closed-door preseason friendly against a Championship side. João Pedro was used sparingly, and when he did come on, he was deployed in an unfamiliar position—on the right wing, isolated, tasked with tracking back more than attacking. “I didn’t touch the ball for almost ten minutes. When the game ended, I walked into the dressing room, looked in the mirror, and said, ‘I’m not staying here. This isn’t me.’”
What followed was a conversation with his agent and then with Brighton’s top brass. João Pedro requested clarity about his role and, ultimately, a move away. Brighton, to their credit, did not block his exit. Club officials acknowledged that a misalignment had occurred between the player and the new manager’s system. Though disappointed, they agreed that parting ways was the most logical resolution. “They were respectful,” Pedro said. “They didn’t make it ugly. And for that, I thank them.”
The forward is now close to finalising a move to one of several interested clubs across Europe. Sources have mentioned Serie A side Fiorentina, La Liga’s Real Betis, and Ligue 1’s Marseille as potential destinations. João Pedro did not confirm where he will be heading next but hinted at a desire to return to a system where he can play “joyful, expressive football.”
“I want to be somewhere where the ball is at my feet,” he said. “Where I can take risks, combine, create. That’s who I am. I’m not a robot. I’m not a machine who just runs. I am an artist on the pitch. That’s what football should be.”
The forward’s open and heartfelt comments have ignited debate within the football world. Some former professionals have praised his honesty, while others have criticised him for not adapting. “He should have stayed and fought,” said one former Premier League striker. “That’s what top players do.” But others, like ex-Barcelona and Brazil legend Rivaldo, came to João Pedro’s defence. “Football is about trust and chemistry,” Rivaldo wrote on Instagram. “If a coach doesn’t believe in you, you are right to move. João Pedro is a top talent. He will succeed.”
Brighton have yet to respond publicly to João Pedro’s interview, but inside the club, the focus has shifted toward reintegrating their remaining attacking options and continuing Hürzeler’s tactical revolution. The young manager is under pressure to deliver, particularly given the emotional nature of João Pedro’s exit and the club’s growing European ambitions. With Europa Conference League qualification secured for the coming season, Brighton will be hoping to quickly replace the Brazilian’s goals and presence.
Despite the disappointment of how things ended, João Pedro insists he holds no grudge against the club or its fans. “I love Brighton. I love the people there. I’ll never forget the way they sang my name, the way they made me feel welcome. My issue wasn’t with the club. It was with a situation that didn’t fit me.”
As for Fabian Hürzeler, João Pedro remained measured. “He has his ideas, and I respect that. He’s a smart coach, no doubt. But sometimes, things don’t align. I just hope he understands that what works on a tactics board doesn’t always work for the heart of a player.”
In a footballing world often filled with rehearsed quotes and media-trained statements, João Pedro’s raw honesty has struck a chord. His departure from Brighton may be behind him, but the questions it raises about coaching, adaptability, and communication will linger long into the new season. For now, the Brazilian forward begins a new chapter—still only 23, still bursting with potential, and now more determined than ever to prove that his love for the game is stronger than any tactical system.
“I’m ready,” he concluded. “Ready to play, ready to smile again on the pitch. That’s what I live for.”
