'Best Brazilian since Neymar' - Chelsea's new signing

Abel Ferreira hesitated for a second, insisted he wouldn't opportunity what he had successful his mind, but past - successful a uncommon infinitesimal of afloat disclosure erstwhile it comes to young talents - he opened up.

"This subordinate is different from everything I've ever seen," nan Palmeiras coach said successful a property convention successful early May, pursuing a 2-1 triumph complete Botafogo-SP successful nan Brazilian Cup.

The two-time Libertadores champion is not peculiarly known for letting himself get carried distant excessively easily, particularly successful beforehand of nan cameras. But that night, he allowed himself to speak freely because he couldn't judge his eyes - 17-year-old Estevao Willian had conscionable scored nan victor successful nan last minutes and put connected a spectacular show erstwhile more.

Such is nan effect nan left-footed winger has had this play that Ferreira tried, successful vain, to person nan nine committee not to waste him. That was excessively late, though.

Chelsea person beaten nan title of nan likes of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Manchester City to sign nan Palmeiras wonderkid successful a woody that could yet beryllium worthy £52m and that will spot him get astatine Stamford Bridge aft Fifa’s caller Club World Cup successful July 2025.

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."

Chelsea whitethorn person struck golden pinch their caller signing.

Estevao is simply a personnel of nan alleged "geracao do bilhao" - a procreation of players that besides includes Real Madrid-bound Endrick and West Ham’s caller starlet 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.