The summer window can’t come soon enough for Chelsea fans.
That’s because they’ll finally get their hands on Brazilian whizz kid Estevao, whose two sensational goals for Palmeiras on Saturday left Blues supporters drooling.
The 17-year-old started on the right wing for Palmeiras in their Campeonato Paulista quarter-final away to Sao Bernardo.
It took the teenage talent just 16 minutes to open the scoring with a shot that somehow didn’t blast a hole in the net, such was the ferocity of the strike.
Estevao controlled the ball from a header before taking a touch to open up space for a strike from outside the 18-yard box.
With his left foot, the Chelsea-bound star rifled a shot into the top-right corner of the goal that left Sao Bernardo goalkeeper Alex Alves clutching at thin air.
Safe to say, Chelsea supporters were in awe of the 17-year-old’s strike.
One user on X wrote: “Oh my word Estevao what a goal. The power on that strike.”
Another said: “Another day, another banger from Estevao. What. A. Goal.”
One fan added: “Just saw Estevao’s goals so far from tonight. What a joke. This kid is actually a demon. The absolute biggest thing out of Brazil since Neymar. Don’t you dare fumble his development, Chels.”
The teen collected his second goal of the contest in first-half stoppage time.
With the ball at his feet high on the right flank, Estevao beat his marker and cut inside to find himself in acres of space before unleashing a driving curling effort past a sprawling Alves.
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By scoring twice against Sao Bernardo, it brought Estevao’s total goal involvements for Palmeiras to 30, 20 of which were goals and ten being assists.
It meant Estevao became the first Brazilian to reach 30 career goals and assists before the age of 18 since superstar winger Neymar accomplished the feat in 2010.
Unfortunately for Palmeiras supporters, they only have a few more months left to enjoy Estevao before he moves to Chelsea on a permanent basis.
The Blues completed a £56million swoop for the 17-year-old in December.
However, due to FA and Premier League rules, teams are unable to sign players from abroad if they are under the age of 18, meaning Estevao cannot join until the summer.
But it hasn’t stopped Chelsea fans from getting excited ever since they agreed the deal to sign him, especially since he has been nicknamed ‘Messinho’, or ‘Little Messi’, owing to his small stature and remarkable ability on the ball.
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He was also crowned the Best Young Player and Best Attacker of the 2024 Brasileirao thanks to his exploits with Palmeiras as he registered 13 goals and nine assists in 31 Serie A appearances.
Estevao’s success will no doubt give Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca a headache of the good kind as the Italian works out how he could fit the teenager into his team.
Further complicating matters is the fact Estevao previously told ESPN Brazil his ‘favourite position is number 10.’
“But I am comfortable in every position, also on the wing,” Estevao added.
