Chelsea winger Estevao has revealed that he did talk with former Blues defender Thiago Silva prior to moving to Stamford Bridge this summer.
The 18-year-old’s transfer was officially confirmed in June 2024, but he has been playing for Palmeiras since that announcement. When he faced Fluminense at the end of last year, Estevao said Silva praised his decision to make the switch to the London club:
“After I had signed for Chelsea and in the final game of 2024, I played against Thiago Silva. He came and talked to me.”
“He said I was going to love the club, which has an incredible structure and is an incredible club. And now [I am here], I can see how amazing this club is.”
What do fans need to know about Estevao?
The teenager has already been given a nickname, “Messinho”, which essentially means “Little Messi”, and he has been heralded as the most talented player to come out of Brazil since Neymar.
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Last campaign for Palmeiras, Estevao found the back of the net 12 times and laid on 5 assists in 37 appearances, which is a very impressive return for an 18-year-old with little to no experience.
Some may argue that he needs to bulk up a bit to stand up to the physicality of the Premier League, but former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has already advised him not to change too much about his game.
When will he be in action for Chelsea?
Estevao has started pre-season training with his new teammates this week, and Enzo Maresca’s side have two friendlies to play before the start of the new campaign.
The Blues face Bayer Leverkusen on Friday before taking on AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The young Brazilian will likely feature in one of those matches.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here