Brazil starlet Estevao Willian ‘ready’ for Chelsea move: Palmeiras coach

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Palmeiras Brazilian forward Estevao Willian after losing the Club World Cup quarter-final clash against his future employers Chelsea.

PHOTO: AFP

PHILADELPHIA – Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said he believes teenage prodigy Estevao Willian is ready to take the leap to the English Premier League, after he marked his farewell appearance for the Brazilian club with a goal against future employers Chelsea on July 4.

The 18-year-old scored a fantastic equaliser in the Club World Cup quarter-final between the teams in Philadelphia but could not prevent Chelsea claiming a 2-1 win thanks to a late own goal by Agustin Giay.

He will now complete a move to the London club, finally heading to England just over a year after Chelsea agreed to pay Palmeiras a reported €57 million (S$85.6 million),including bonuses, for him.

“I don’t have sons, I have two daughters, but he is my son,” Ferreira said after the match at Lincoln Financial Field, adding that he had exchanged words with Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca about Estevao.

“I spoke before with Maresca. He is a nice coach, and I told him that they bought an amazing player but more than this they bought an amazing person.

“I said that they need to take care of him and embrace him because for sure in the beginning he will make mistakes, but you saw today that he is a player with a lot of skills who can win a game on his own.”

Estevao was named the best player in the Brazilian league in 2024 and has shown plenty of glimpses of