Unusual situation: Estevao Willian looks set to line up against future employers Chelsea at the Club World Cup
Chelsea Football Newsletter
The Blues return to Philadelphia on Friday night for their last-eight clash against Brazilian opposition at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the reigning NFL champion Eagles, having withstood a lengthy stoppage in a dramatic last-16 meeting with Benfica last weekend.
Enzo Maresca’s side looked to be heading through in straightforward fashion at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte after captain Reece James’ excellent second-half free-kick, only to see the final four minutes of the match postponed after a severe weather delay lasting for almost two hours.
Angel Di Maria’s last-gasp penalty made matters worse for Chelsea when the match finally resumed and they were taken to extra time, where goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw them eventually run out 4-1 winners in a match that took nearly five hours to complete.
Maresca called the situation “a joke” and claimed that such repeated delays meant the United States probably was not the right choice of hosts for the inaugural expanded 32-team summer Club World Cup, but now his side must quickly focus for a return to Philadelphia, Chelsea’s base for the competition where they previously lost to Flamengo and beat ES Tunis as they finished as runners-up in Group D following an opening win over LAFC in Atlanta.
A heatwave in Philadelphia led to Maresca complaining that it was “impossible” to train properly, though Chelsea will at least be boosted by the arrival of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, who is flying out to the US in order to undergo a medical and sign a seven-year contract to complete a £60million transfer from Brighton.
Can Estevao Willian play against Chelsea at Club World Cup?
While Pedro could yet play a role for Chelsea at the Club World Cup alongside previous new arrivals Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr, fellow prospective signing Jamie Gittens would not be permitted to do so having already played in the competition for Borussia Dortmund.
It’s a different situation again for Estevao Willian, whom Chelsea agreed to sign from Palmeiras for an initial £29m fee that could rise above £50m with add-ons.
The deal was first agreed in May 2024 for the teenage sensation to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer following a final season in Brazil, where the likes of Neymar have hailed him as a future superstar and new Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti labelled him as a “special talent”.
Estevao has been a leading light for Brazilian giants Palmeiras at the Club World Cup so far
Chelsea later agreed for Estevao to remain at Palmeiras for the Club World Cup, where he delivered man-of-the-match displays in opening games against Porto and Al Ahly, also impressing against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami as Abel Ferreira’s side finished top of Group A on goal difference, avoiding Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain as they instead teed up a last-16 tie against domestic rivals Botafogo.
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Chelsea fans have been wondering since the knockout draw was confirmed if Estevao would be eligible to feature against the club he will join after the tournament, and the answer is that yes, he is.
There is understood to be no agreement with Palmeiras or anything included in FIFA’s Club World Cup regulations that would prevent him from playing in Philadelphia on Friday night.