Estevao Willian has reminded Enzo Maresca exactly why he’s been hailed as the ‘best player to emerge from Brazilian football since Neymar’. Chelsea signed the 17-year-old winger from Palmeiras in the summer after agreeing an initial £29m deal plus performance-based add-ons.
The Blues raised eyebrows when they forked out such a hefty fee for Estevao, but now he looks to be a shrewd investment. This season, the teenage sensation has featured 22 times for Palmeiras in the Brasileirão, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists.
Despite missing a few games with an ankle injury, the youngster has almost broken a 15-year record set by Neymar. In 2009, the Al-Hilal winger managed to record 16 direct goal contributions for Santos in the Brazilian top flight at the same age.
With 12 games left to play, Estevao has equalled Neymar’s achievement, meaning he needs just one more goal or assist before the end of the campaign to break his record. The Chelsea wonderkid drew level with his fellow countryman on Sunday, netting in a 5-0 win over Criciúma Esporte Clube.
Playing a key role in Abel Ferreira’s side, Estevao has helped the Verdão climb to third in the Brasileirão – and they’re only three points off Botafogo, who are currently leading the title race. Regardless of whether the youngster guides Palmeiras to glory, the west Londoners can be confident that they’ve made an excellent signing.
Speaking to reporters after Chelsea’s win over Bournemouth at the weekend, Maresca was asked for his thoughts on Estevao, who was given his senior debut for Brazil during the international break. He became the second-youngest player to debut for his country this century after Endrick when Seleção Canarinho enjoyed a 1-0 win over Ecuador.
The Blues boss said: “Yes, we are following him. He is doing fantastic but unfortunately he is doing fantastic there and not with us. We are going to wait until next summer when he will arrive here but for sure we are very happy in the way he is doing these things.”
With Neymar approaching the latter stage of his career, Estevao has gripped the heart strings of his homeland. In June, the Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain legend tipped the teenager to be a ‘genius’.
“He is a great talent that is emerging in Brazilian football today – I think he’s going to be a genius,” he said, as quoted by ESPN. Then, In an interview with BBC Sport, the head of Palmeiras’ academy, Joao Paulo Sampaio, drew comparisons between the two wingers.
“Estevao is the best player to have emerged from Brazilian football since Neymar. You watch him and you fall in love. He already impresses with his technique but, like Neymar at this same point in his career, he has not yet matured physically and is not as strong as Endrick, so he could still develop a lot. That’s what amazes everyone and makes them think that he will reach a much higher level.”
With Estevao going from strength to strength before having even kicked a ball at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea can be assured that their recruitment project will bear fruit in good time.
