Estevao Willian: New Chelsea forward nicknamed ‘Messinho’ impresses against his new club | Football News

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Estevao Willian was in tears on the philadelphia field. But then everything changed.

The teenager had the cruel combination of being a game player for a losing team in the quarter -final of the club World Cup, while his Palmeiras team lost against Chelsea via a late goal.

But his tears have turned into smiles, like those who consoled the young disappointed were not his own teammates, but his future on the opposition.

Cole Palmer was the first player to salute Estevao. Liam Delap and Moises Caicedo joined him to congratulate the teenager with whom they are about to connect, the player who sealed a move of 29.1 million pounds Sterling to Stamford Bridge last year.

“I told him that we are delighted that he is joining,” Palmer told the media. “We can see that he is a better player.” This is because Chelsea was made to sweat by the player who should join them after this tournament.

The teenager took the ball in her stride to draw an equalizer in front of Robert Sanchez from an impossible angle on the right.

It was Lionel Messi -Esque of the adolescent – who is appropriate given his nickname “Messinho” or “Little Messi” – who followed him since he turned out for the Cruzeiro Academy.

“In terms of Estevao, we could talk about a phenomenon,” said South American expert Tim Vickery Sky Sports. And this is not the only comparison with the legendary Argentinian.

“It is slightly built, the left foot, everything is linked to this left foot. And like Messi, it is not a seal of performance.

“I remember seeing Messi at 17 and what really stood out was his appreciation of space. He did not do tricks about 40 meters from the goal. It was the ability to attack, to identify the vulnerable space in the opposing defense.

“You look at the construction of Estevao physically, you would not expect him to attack this space and competition in this space. But he does.

“Perhaps a more exact comparison is Rodrygo of Real Madrid. Estevao is a left foot version of him. Slightly built, very fluid. It is like on the water when it wears the ball – full of changes in rhythm and rhythm.”

This was the case for Estevao’s objective against his future Chelsea employers, but there were also many other high quality moments. The Brazilian aligned himself in the central role of the midfielder and directed the show, but often broke up to face Marc Cucurella.

There was an attacker flair, but also maturity on the screen too. Estevao was not afraid to come deeply and carry the ball in deep areas. In addition to its quality on the ball, his work out of the ball has also been recognized.

This is why Abel Ferreira – Estevao coach in Palmeiras – wanted to keep it until 2027. “I really think that this player is different from everything I have ever seen,” said the coach before the finalization of his Chelsea move. “A boy who defends, attacks, shows himself in the game.”

“Partly this is the mentality,” adds Vickery on what Ferreira likes the most at Estevao. “He uses Estevao as an example for other youth players. He gets the ball, he does not come off, but his head never falls and he gets up and tries again.

“He is not a luxury player, although he is slightly built, they like his ability to combine. He is an individual with great talent, he is not an individualist. He has a great vision of the game.

“He is able to work back and help the back too. It is the range of his talents, the strength of his mentality that charmed the coach of Palmeiras.”

Against Chelsea, it was a performance filled with a point to prove. Not that he needs it – Estevao’s performance against the Blues was his third player of the tournament match.

But how does it translate these screens into the Premier League? Is there a space for him in the Enzo Maresca team?

With Palmer, who marked Chelsea’s opening match before Estevao took control, as well as Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez in the attacker midfielders, which no position of 10 will have to wait at Chelsea for the adolescent.

But the right place could be a position where Estevao could have more joy. Ferreira described Estevao as one of the best players he has ever seen – and it should be remembered that he used to manage Pedro Neto, who is currently the favorite of this right role at Chelsea.

The arrival of Estevao could also create doubts about the future of Noni Madueke – with Arsenal interested in the Chelsea winger – although he can also operate from the left, so he can have a role to play.

Patience can still be necessary with regard to Estevao – since the young people of Palmeiras had a mixed record in terms of immediate impacts immediately in England.

Gabriel Jesus hit the floor at Manchester City, but Vitor Reis needed more time to settle in the Etihad stadium. The same goes for Luis Guilherme at West Ham, who always gets aware of everything.

But none of these players was described as a phenomenon. “One of the reasons why he chose Chelsea was told that he was not going to be loaned, he will compete for a first team place,” said Vickery.

Estevao experienced a dazzling increase in darkness last season last season around the world. Since he has already shown that he could damage the opposition in the Premier League, it is to be monitored for next season.