Watford have reportedly rejected a request from Fluminense to keep Joao Pedro in Brazil until mid-2020.

The player has been the subject of booing from home supporters in recent weeks, after an eight game spell without a win and a public appearance at a music festival two days before a game.

Stories have even emerged of supporters approaching Pedro in the street and in restaurants, demanding greater effort from him, while the Fluminense manager Marco Aurélio de Oliveira, known simply as Marcão, has asked fans to stop jeering the player, claiming, "tactically, he is helping us a lot."

Despite his falling out with supporters, reports in Brazil claim the team have asked Watford if they can hold onto the teenager until a later date, but the Hornets are not interested in allowing him to stay in South America after his originally-agreed arrival date of January 2020.

The 18-year-old has scored ten goals for Fluminense so far this season, but drew criticism for appearing at Rock In Rio festival last month.

Following an incident where Pedro was approached by supporters after a game, he released the following statement:

“I was going to dinner with my family and my girlfriend when I decided to go in the car and get another shirt to change for the one I was wearing, which was a club one.

“When I got in the car to get my shirt, a fan came to talk to me. I asked to wait a moment that I would just pick up my shirt and come back. They accepted without problems and when I came back, one of them said ‘hey, you have to run more’. I said I’ll never stop running. Even in today’s game, after 54 minutes, I was sprinting to press the opponent defender.

“As his friends saw that he was already slightly altered through alcohol, they came close to avoid any problems. My stepfather and mother saw the conversation and went out to see what was going on. And that was all. The fans left and my family and I left for another restaurant.

“One of the things I demand most from myself is my performance in training and games. I will never do anything that could interfere with my performances. I’m not going out at night, sleeping late, let alone drinking alcohol and eating poorly. I went to Rock in Rio because it was two days before the game and there was no physical wear. But that was an isolated episode. So much so that my physical performance in today’s match was one of the best I had in the league.

“I’m 100% focused on the club, to get Fluminense out of this dangerous zone in the table, to end the year with reasons to celebrate. The fans can trust me and our entire group, who work tirelessly to bring the victories we need.”