LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Estevao of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Chelsea fans were unhappy that Estevao started on the bench for Chelsea’s win against Wolves (Getty)
Enzo Maresca insists he will ‘slowly’ give more playing time to Estevao after Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Wolves.
The Chelsea managed faced criticism from supporters on Saturday night over his decision not to start the 18-year-old following his man-of-the-match display against Qarabag in the Champions League earlier this week.
Estevao was introduced as a substitute in the 64th minute against Wolves after Malo Gusto had put the hosts in front at Stamford Bridge and the Brazilian winger immediately provided the cross for Joao Pedro’s goal.
Pedro Neto then struck to complete the victory which has put Chelsea second in the Premier League and six points behind leaders Arsenal.
After Chelsea’s win, Maresca was informed that a data company is already valuing Estevao at £100 million. When asked for his verdict, Maresca replied: ‘Yeah, you can see that, absolutely.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘His talent is top. Again, we are trying to help him adapt and give him the right minutes, and he’s doing fantastic.
‘He will be for this club, in the next five or ten years, a top, top player.’
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Estevao after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on November 08, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Estevao provided the cross for Joao Pedro’s goal against Wolves (Getty)
Asked if it is proving difficult to stop the hype surrounding Estevao, Maresca said: ‘Absolutely, yes.
‘I said already twice the reason why fans pay tickets is because they want to see players like Estevao and like Cole [Palmer] because people are happy when they are on the pitch.
‘The only difference is Estevao arrived from Brazil, he needs to adapt a little bit.
‘Slowly, slowly, he’s going to start games for us in the future.
‘I was very worried before this game because they are the worst games, they are tricky games because everyone is thinking it’s going to be easy. I can understand first half people were not happy because we didn’t score, not because of the performance, to be honest.
‘And then when Estevao was on the pitch the energy raised because people loved that kind of player, so we are happy he can help the team and the fans can be happy.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Sunderland admit secret pitch tactic vs Arsenal to stop key threat
MORE: Dimitar Berbatov questions Manchester United star after Spurs draw: ‘He was not ready to play’
MORE: Owen Hargreaves makes Premier League prediction for Man Utd after Tottenham draw
Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
Your guide to the week in football. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk – sign up, it’s an open goal.