Club officials at Chelsea and members of Enzo Maresca’s coaching staff are privately making lofty predictions for summer signing Estevao Willian.
The Blues saw off competition from a variety of clubs to sign Estevao in a £29m deal from Palmeiras.
If Estevao prompts a variety of performance-based targets – which appears likely at this stage – Chelsea pays an extra £21m to the Brazilian club in add-ons.
Already thought to be one of the vital exciting young players in world football, Willian – who has 11 international caps before his nineteenth birthday – has been in comparison with Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer Neymar.
Estevao has only began seven games for Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca perhaps understandably cautious over the teenager’s game-time, but has shown enough glimpses to excite fans and pundits alike.
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In keeping with ESPN Brasil, Estevao has exceeded expectations at Stamford Bridge and convinced club officials and coaches he’ll develop into ‘one among the ten best players on this planet’ by 2029.
It’s claimed Chelsea have been ‘impressed’ by his ‘maturity’, ‘focus’ and ‘discipline’, with Estevao quickly settling into life in west London and absorbing Maresca’s tactical instructions with ease.
Estevao’s promising start at Chelsea has also had repercussions in Spain, with Real Madrid already ‘regretting’ their decision to not pursue the Brazilian.
Los Blancos are said to have ‘analysed’ Estevao during his time at Palmeiras but ultimately decided to not act any further, a call that they at the moment are questioning.
Estevao scored in each of Brazil’s friendlies through the November international break, taking his overall record to 5 goals in 11 appearances for his country.
After scoring in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia on Tuesday, Estevao was hailed as a ‘football genius’ and a future Ballon d’Or winner.
‘I feel Estevao is a brand new football genius emerging,’ Tunisia boss Sami Trabelsi said.
‘If he manages to have good performances or win titles, along with his club or his country, he shall be among the many players who in the approaching years could even compete for the Ballon d’Or.’
Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has also heaped praise on Estevao, describing him as ‘exceptional’ and potentially the ‘most enjoyable player to observe’ within the Premier League.
‘Estevao really is phenomenal,’ Nevin told BBC Sport. ‘Only a tiny variety of players can produce this particular special effect.
‘When you get a likelihood whether at Stamford Bridge, or while watching a game on TV, close your eyes and take heed to the sound of the gang when Estevao gets the ball in the ultimate third.
‘It’s the purified sound of expectation, excitement and support from a complete stadium. Only a few could make that occur just by getting the ball.
’It might be best to shut your eyes when watching it back on record as you would possibly just miss yet one more incredibly imaginative piece of brilliance from the wonderkid in the event you do that approach live.
’He was at it again for Brazil through the international break. I’d pay to observe him warm up and while he won’t be one of the best player within the Premier League, he may possibly be essentially the most enjoyable to observe.’
Barring injury or a shocking dip in form, Estevao shall be a part of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Before that, the Brazilian sensational will hope to assist Chelsea enjoy a successful season and win some more silverware following last season’s Conference League win and the Club World Cup conquer the summer.
Maresca’s side climbed to 3rd within the Premier League before the international break and return to motion on Saturday against Burnley.
Chelsea face two huge games after their trip to Turf Moor, first playing Barcelona within the Champions League after which taking over Premier League title favourites and London rivals Arsenal.
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