According to Andrey Santos, Estevao Willian, the recent signing by Chelsea, is “the face of Brazilian football” and has “huge potential.”
The 17-year-old from Palmeiras has already reached an agreement with Chelsea, who will pay €34 million (£28.7 million) in upfront fees and a further €23 million (£19.4 million) in add-ons.
When Estevao turns eighteen in January of next year, he will go to Chelsea. Kendry Paez, an Ecuadorian international midfielder who is also highly regarded and whose £17.5 million deal to Chelsea was finalized last year, will also be arriving at Stamford Bridge with Estevao.
Estevao will develop into a “genius” for Brazil on the field, according to Neymar, and Santos has disclosed that he has already spoken with Chelsea’s new addition. “It’s difficult but you’re going to make it,”
Santos said on the Fora do Jogo podcast. “I spoke to Estevao, if I’m not mistaken, it was when he went to play in Colombia. I had played there the month before. He sent me a message saying,’man, I really admire you, how you managed to make a difference here in this climate at this altitude.”
“Estevao is a kid; I enjoy his work.” He has a tremendous amount of potential.
I used to talk to my father about him all the time, and I knew that his talent would make him a professional very soon. He is the face of Brazilian football, and I can tell that he is a motivated young man with a lot of personality—personality that I believe attackers need to possess.
Santos, who joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama last year, says he was pressured to go on loan out of Stamford Bridge in order to get more playing time.
“Football is very different from Brazil.” The game’s dynamics are quite quick, and the intensity is lower and outrageous elsewhere, stated Santos.
I had a chance to stay at Chelsea after adjusting well to the preseason, but I truly wanted to play and gain minutes, so I decided, together with my family, that it would be best to go out on loan. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were also there.
“The people at Chelsea wanted me to be a little more patient, but it was better that I went out and played.” ‘I was fit and willing, but unfortunately I didn’t play much at Nottingham Forest.
Fortunately, I went to Strasbourg and was able to showcase my skills to Europe and start things off. For four months, I performed effectively, had an impact, and kept the squad in Ligue 1.
During Chelsea’s preseason campaign, Santos hopes to persuade Enzo Maresca after performing admirably while on loan at Strasbourg the previous season.
The 20-year-old has, however, applauded Chelsea’s choice to go to South America for future player acquisitions.
“With Estevao and Kendry [Paez] included, there’s even more now.” With Chelsea’s excellent scouting in South America, soon enough everyone will be speaking Spanish there! stated Santos.
“I believe that their youth project is excellent because they have players for the future and for the present; Enzo is a world champion, Caicedo is already on the national team, and Reece James welcomed me warmly when I arrived.”