Abel Ferreira hesitated for a second, insisted he would not say what he had in his thoughts, however then – in a uncommon second of full disclosure in terms of younger skills – he opened up.
“This participant is totally different from every little thing I’ve ever seen,” the Palmeiras coach stated in a press convention in Could 2024, following a 2-1 win over Botafogo-SP within the Brazilian Cup.
The 2-time Libertadores champion is just not significantly identified for letting himself get carried away too simply, particularly in entrance of the cameras. However that night time, he allowed himself to talk freely as a result of he could not consider his eyes – then 17-year-old Estevao had simply scored the winner within the last minutes and placed on a spectacular present as soon as extra.
Such is the affect the left-footed winger had the season earlier than final that Ferreira tried, in useless, to persuade the membership board to not promote him. That was too late, although.
Chelsea beat the competitors of the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Manchester Metropolis to signal the Palmeiras wonderkid in a deal that would ultimately be price £52m and that may see him arrive at Stamford Bridge after Fifa’s new Membership World Cup in July 2025.
Different Brazilian youngsters akin to Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo left for Europe on the similar age for big charges. They’ve each proved themselves already on the massive levels since then. However none of them had been as hyped as Estevao after they first moved overseas.
There is a feeling in Brazil that the boy from the countryside of Sao Paulo could also be one thing else, the sort of participant that comes alongside as soon as a decade and appears destined to the very high.
“Estevao is the perfect participant to have emerged from Brazilian soccer since Neymar. You watch him and also you fall in love,” the pinnacle of Palmeiras’ academy, Joao Paulo Sampaio, instructed BBC Sport.
“He already impresses along with his method however, like Neymar at this similar level in his profession, he has not but matured bodily and isn’t as robust as Endrick, so he might nonetheless develop so much. That is what amazes everybody and makes them assume that he’ll attain a a lot increased degree.”
Chelsea could have struck gold with their new signing.
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