Fiorentina’s first four points under Paolo Vanoli’s return have brought a pause to a damaging run, but they have also offered only a first glimpse of Pedro Gonçalves. The Portuguese forward featured from the bench against Venezia and Napoli, yet the club’s late-market arrival is still working towards the level of sharpness required to influence the season fully.
Pedro entered with around 10 minutes remaining against Venezia and had 25 minutes in the match with Napoli, following a more eye-catching half-hour in the Coppa Italia against Pisa. The points collected in those two league fixtures have helped halt Fiorentina’s sequence of defeats, although the performance against Napoli did not yet show the player at his best.
Vanoli nevertheless sees reason to trust the depth now available to him. “If the players coming on can make an impact in that way, we can do well and go far,” he said after Napoli. Pedro, Valdepeñas and Beto were the three players among five involved in that game to receive significant minutes.
Vanoli’s enthusiasm and a late-market investment
The Fiorentina coach has made his feelings about the new signing clear: “Pedro excites me.” The enthusiasm has also been present among supporters since the 28-year-old arrived at the close of the transfer window, after Fiorentina were unable to complete a move for Cancellieri.
Sporting-trained Pedro joined on a paid loan worth €2.5 million, with a €22.5 million option to buy included in the agreement. He prefers to be known as Pedro Gonçalves rather than by the nickname Pote, which had accompanied much of the early talk surrounding his move to Florence.
He arrives with close to 100 goals from his career in Portugal and considerable experience across league football, domestic cups and Europe. In the Champions League, he has played 21 times, scoring five goals and registering six assists. His other European record includes 15 appearances, six goals and four assists.
Before becoming established at Sporting, Gonçalves spent two developmental seasons at Wolverhampton between 2017 and 2019. It was at Sporting, however, that he built the reputation Fiorentina hope can now travel with him into Serie A.
A number 10 waiting for fitness
Pedro’s own view of his role is uncomplicated. “I am a number 10,” he said, while also stressing that he can operate wide when the team’s needs require it.
That flexibility is important in Vanoli’s plans. On paper, Pedro arrived as an alternative to Njie in the wide pairings, with Mastantuono and Gnonto available on the right. Yet his natural home is behind the striker, and that makes him particularly suited to the 4-2-3-1 that Vanoli has used in an effort to give Fiorentina greater balance.
In that system, he could occupy the advanced midfield position previously held by Atta, supplying the centre-forward and finding shooting opportunities of his own. His appearance against Pisa served as a reminder of his capacity to create something from limited space.
For now, the decisive issue is condition rather than talent. Pedro expects to reach his best level after the international break, when Fiorentina will hope their four-point response can become the start of a more convincing recovery.
