Barcelona may have signed Estevao Willian as an alternative of Chelsea, in keeping with the celebrity’s agent.
The Blues welcomed the Brazilian starlet from Palmeiras through the summer season after saying a deal value £56million in June 2024.
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Estevao has performed 740 minutes in his debut season to this point and scored 5 targets in all competitions together with one help on the fitting wing.
His newest strike got here in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory towards Barcelona within the Champions League on Tuesday night time – a surprising run and end.
The 18-year-old is thought to be top-of-the-line younger skills in world soccer having made such a formidable begin at Stamford Bridge.
Nonetheless, he may have moved to Spain as an alternative of England, having been a goal for fellow European giants Barcelona.
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In an interview with Cadena SER, Estevao’s agent Andre Cury detailed his in depth contact with Barca: “In 2018 I began doing studies on Estevao.
“In 2019, I took [former Barcelona sporting director Eric] Abidal to Brazil to observe one in all his matches, and you might already see when he was 11-years outdated that he was completely different and that he wished to be a Ballon d’Or winner.
“I’ve at all times talked about him, and now what I stated is beginning to be confirmed. After I left Barca, we talked about Estevao in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“We went to the places of work to supply the participant as a result of I believed he had a terrific future in world soccer.
“Barca is not in a great monetary place, and generally a deal cannot be made. It is a disgrace, but it surely’s a disgrace.”
Cury added: “The technical employees at all times accredited Estevao’s signing, and we met with Deco [current sporting director] greater than as soon as.
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“However Deco is tied to the membership as a result of the membership’s funds do not permit for a signing for the longer term.
“For instance, with Vitor Roque, the membership rushed right into a mistake. A participant cannot be signed after which, after 4 months, be not helpful. With Vitor, the ambiance wasn’t proper to signal Estevao.”
Lamine Yamal, who underwhelmed towards Chelsea, performs in the identical place as Estevao as one in all Barca’s newest La Masia merchandise.
Nonetheless, Cury stated his consumer can even play via the center, and hinted they may emulate two membership legends in the event that they performed collectively.
“Consider the Neymar-[Lionel] Messi duo, it is higher than simply having Messi or simply having Neymar.
“Estevao has 5 years left on his contract and is having fun with himself at Chelsea. He has a particular affection for Barca.”
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Estevao at Chelsea to this point
Quickly after he scored towards Chelsea for Palmeiras on the Membership World Cup, Estevao accomplished his transfer to west London.
{The teenager} impressed of their pre-season friendlies towards Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan earlier than making his aggressive debut.
Estevao got here off the bench towards Crystal Palace after which began in a 5-1 win over West Ham, throughout which he assisted Enzo Fernandez.
He netted his first Chelsea objective with a stoppage time winner towards Liverpool final month that sparked wild celebrations on the Bridge.
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Objectives towards Ajax, Wolves and Qarabag adopted for the younger Brazilian worldwide earlier than his gorgeous strike versus Barcelona.
Estevao has performed 740 minutes throughout 17 appearances for Chelsea, however may swiftly turn out to be an everyday starter below Enzo Maresca.
