'perfect Night' For Chelsea As 'exciting' Estevao Gives Glimpse Of Future

Estevao Willian could hardly person introduced himself to Chelsea successful a amended way.

When nan 18-year-old Brazilian smashed location an equaliser for Palmeiras against nan Blues from an almost intolerable perspective connected Saturday - Chelsea fans could person been forgiven for emotion a small spot excited.

Yes, he had conscionable equalised against their broadside successful nan Club World Cup quarter-final but it was besides a thrilling glimpse of nan talent Chelsea person signed successful a woody that could yet beryllium worthy £52m.

A precocious Palmeiras ain extremity meant it was yet Chelsea looking guardant to a semi-final against Fluminense, but Estevao's past crippled for nan Brazilians was surely a memorable one.

The Blues hit nan likes of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Manchester City to motion nan Palmeiras wonderkid past summertime - earlier allowing him to enactment successful Brazil past play and to play for nan Brazilians successful this summer's Club World Cup.

And, while they person been regretting that determination arsenic his nonstop moving and silky skills tormented them successful Philadelphia, anyone connected pinch Chelsea can't neglect but to beryllium excited by what they saw.

Chelsea leader Enzo Maresca said: "Happy because we won and besides happy because Estevao scored, nan cleanable night."

The guardant was a changeless threat down Palmeiras's right, had nan astir touches successful Chelsea's container for his broadside (8), and was awarded man of nan lucifer for his display.

Blues midfielder Cole Palmer, who was pictured talking to him aft nan last whistle, added: "You tin spot he is simply a apical player, truthful it is very exciting..

"I conscionable said we are excited for you to join, but he didn't understand a azygous connection I said."

Estevao and Palmeiras head Abel Ferreira were tearful astatine nan station lucifer property convention arsenic they reflected connected their clip together.

Ferreira said: "I said earlier pinch Maresca and told him 'you bought an astonishing subordinate but much than this you bought an astonishing person'.

"You request to return attraction of him. You request to clasp him and successful nan opening for judge he will make mistakes. Like you saw coming he is an astonishing subordinate pinch a batch of skill. He is simply a subordinate who tin triumph a crippled alone."

Estevao, said: "Palmeiras opened nan doorway for me. I was profoundly happy successful Palmeiras and my family knows really happy I was.

"I'm very happy I could people a extremity to thief my nine unluckily this wasn't nan consequence we wanted but we gave our champion connected nan transportation and now I americium moving on."

Other Brazilian teenagers specified arsenic Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo near for Europe astatine nan aforesaid property for immense fees.

They've some proved themselves already connected nan large stages since then. But nary of them were arsenic hyped arsenic Estevao erstwhile they first moved abroad.

There's a emotion successful Brazil that nan boy from nan countryside of Sao Paulo whitethorn beryllium thing else, nan benignant of subordinate that comes on erstwhile a decade and seems destined to nan very top.

"Estevao is nan champion subordinate to person emerged from Brazilian shot since Neymar. You watch him and you autumn successful love," nan caput of Palmeiras' academy, Joao Paulo Sampaio, told BBC Sport.

"He already impresses pinch his method but, for illustration Neymar astatine this aforesaid constituent successful his career, he has not yet matured physically and is not arsenic beardown arsenic Endrick, truthful he could still create a lot. That's what amazes everyone and makes them deliberation that he will scope a overmuch higher level."

Estevao is simply a personnel of nan alleged "geracao do bilhao" - a procreation of players that besides includes Real Madrid's Endrick and West Ham's Luis Guilherme and pinch whom Palmeiras expected to make 1bn Brazilian Real (around £152m).

All 3 person been making waves since they were kids - Estevao himself was only 10 nan first clip Palmeiras tried to lure him to their academy, but grounded to lucifer an connection reportedly 10 times higher from Cruzeiro.

He past became nan youngest Brazilian footballer to motion a statement pinch Nike, surpassing Neymar (13) and Rodrygo (11), and was dubbed 'Messinho' (little Messi) for his expertise to alteration guidance and dribble past opponents while moving pinch nan shot astatine speed.

It hardly came arsenic a astonishment to those who had been pursuing him erstwhile Spanish newspaper AS said during nan 2023 U-17 World Cup that "Brazil person a caller genius".

Despite nan similarities pinch Lionel Messi, Estevao has stated he doesn't want to beryllium called 'Messinho' anymore.

It's not only his near ft that leaves others fascinated, but besides nan mentality he already possesses. Sampaio recalls an section that illustrated that.

"When we won nan 2022 U-17 Brazilian Championship title, Estevao ended up breaking 1 of his toes during a decisive game," he said.

"But moreover truthful he still didn't want to time off [the game], truthful he came to maine astatine half-time saying, 'I'll spell backmost for nan 2nd half'. And I challenged him: 'You amended spell back.' And truthful he had a painkilling injection successful his toed and told me, 'I'll spell back, people a extremity and look for you successful nan stands to shush you.' That's really beardown he is mentally."

A correct winger who tin besides play arsenic number 10, Estevao has ever been treated differently.

He was still 5 months distant from being capable to motion his first elder statement astatine nan property of 16 erstwhile Palmeiras, successful an different move, announced they had agreed nan position of it.

His determination to take Chelsea arsenic nan adjacent measurement successful his profession has been questioned backmost home, owed to nan confusing business of nan English nine and their caller grounds pinch young Brazilians specified arsenic Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel.

Estevao's unit has told BBC Sport they person nary concerns whatsoever astir it and added they judge a transportation to West London will springiness him a chance to break into nan squad much quickly compared to different clubs.

With nan 2026 World Cup arsenic his main goal, nan scheme is to deed nan crushed moving astatine Stamford Bridge erstwhile he arrives.

"I would opportunity that pinch Estevao it's not a matter of whether this spot is easier aliases not because he's nan benignant of subordinate that conscionable goes location and gets things done. When you are an extra-class for illustration him, that's really you do it," Sampaio concluded.