SE Palmeiras v FC Porto: Group A - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
There are high hopes for Estevao at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)
There are great expectations for in-coming Chelsea player Estevao Willian and excitement is not going to die down now he has been compared to Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
18-year-old Estevao signed for Chelsea from Brazilian side Palmeiras last year but is only due to join the Blues after the Club World Cup this summer.
The winger has already made a big splash in his home country and has won five caps for the Brazil senior side already, despite only turning 18 in April.
Chelsea fans will be drooling over the prospect of Estevao lighting up Stamford Bridge and former Blues star Willian has only added to the hype.
The 70-cap Brazil international compared Estevao’s style to that of Barcelona and Spain winger Yamal and said they have similarly great potential.
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‘Without a doubt, he has a lot of potential, a lot of quality,’ Willian told ESPN Brasil. ‘The player has the advantage of still being so young, but with great potential like Lamine Yamal, they have a similar style.
‘I hope that he can be very successful here in England playing for Chelsea, he can win many titles, score a lot of goals with the Chelsea jersey and he will help to win titles over the years.’
Ecuador v Brazil - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
Estevao has already picked up five caps for Brazil (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea paid an initial £29million for the teenager, but that fee could eventually rise to £57million if he meets a number of performance-related clauses.
Willian expects the youngster to do well in the Premier League, but has warned him that it will take some time to adjust to the different conditions and style of play.
‘My advice is that he dedicate himself to the fullest. In England, football is quite different to what he is used to,’ said the 36-year-old. ‘When he gets here I think he needs some extra work at the club.
Fulham FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Willian returned to Fulham last season, making 12 appearances (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I’m sure he has a very good head. There’s no need to argue about his quality, he has more than enough quality to play for a big club like Chelsea. But I hope he can adapt as quickly as possible and get into the style of play here to be very successful.’
Willian would know about adjusting to English football, having made 339 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and Europa League with the Blues.
Can Estevao Willian and Palmeiras play against Chelsea at Club World Cup?
Blues fans will have the chance to see Estevao in action this summer as he is with Palmeiras at the Club World Cup in America.
Palmeiras have been placed in Group A of the competition alongside Al Ahly, Inter Miami and Porto. Chelsea meanwhile find themselves in Group D alongside ES Tunis, Los Angeles FC and Flamengo.
The Brazilian team got their campaign underway on Sunday with a goalless draw with Porto, a match which Estevao started.
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Estevao has already scored 26 goals for Palmeiras (Picture: Getty Images)
There is a possibility Chelsea and Palmeiras can meet at the quarter-final stage of the Club World Cup.
Should both progress as group winners or runners-up and beat their last 16 opponents, they are possible opponents for each other at the last eight stage.
Those matches in question will take place on Friday 4 July in Philadelphia and Saturday 5 July in Atlanta.
With Estevao registered for the Palmeiras squad, there would be nothing to stop him from lining up against the players he will be playing alongside side as early as next month.
Estevao’s agent Andre Cury said in April: ‘Yes, he’s arriving [at Chelsea] after the Club World Cup. He’s a world-class player. Very good. A guy who’s going to make history here.’
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