Pedro Neto says he feels at home at Chelsea despite a summer where the transfer window drove him “a little bit crazy”.
The Portugal winger had interest from Manchester City and Al Hilal and was also linked with Tottenham, the Blues’ opponents on Saturday, during a summer in which his future appeared uncertain.
However, it is understood incoming manager Xabi Alonso was keen to keep him and Chelsea were also reluctant to let him leave.
This season, he has been refashioned as a right wing-back by Alonso in the new manager’s 3-4-2-1 system and scored both goals as Chelsea won 2-0 at Everton last Saturday.
Pedro Neto committed his long-term future to Chelsea in September
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Speaking about his fiancée Carolina, Neto said in an interview with The Times: “She has been the base of emotional control. Maybe in the transfer window I was a little bit crazy, because I wanted to solve things here. She helped me a lot. We feel like home here.”
Neto made clear his view that Alonso will be integral to whatever Chelsea go on to achieve during his tenure.
“Always be hungry for more. This is the mentality the coach is trying to build around the team,” Neto said.
“I think the biggest point was the manager. He talked to me and explained what he wanted. He made sure that I felt like I was wanted by him. Then the owner [Behdad Eghbali], as well, made sure that I was happy here.
“I was really happy that we could agree [the contract]. When you feel like you are appreciated, you always feel like home. That was the feeling that I had.”