Chelsea's rising star Estevao Willian has thrown his future at the club into question after his agent made surprising comments about the player's enduring affection for Barcelona, just hours after he scored against the Spanish giants.
A Night of Mixed Emotions at Stamford Bridge
The Brazilian teenager was the standout performer in Chelsea's emphatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Estevao found the back of the net, with further goals from Liam Delap and an own goal from Jules Kounde sealing a memorable win for the Blues.
However, the post-match celebrations were tempered by revelations from the player's representative. In an interview with Cadena SER, the agent detailed how close Estevao came to joining Barcelona instead of Chelsea, a story that has caused significant unease among the Stamford Bridge faithful.
The Barcelona Transfer That Nearly Was
The agent disclosed that his involvement with Estevao began as far back as 2018, and he even took former Barcelona director Eric Abidal to Brazil to watch the prodigy play in 2019, when Estevao was just 11 years old. He confirmed that talks with Barcelona occurred repeatedly in 2021, 2022, 2023, and even in 2024.
"We offered the player because we believed he had a very bright future," the agent stated, "but Barca's finances weren't in good shape." He confirmed that while the technical staff always approved the signing, football director Deco and the club's precarious financial situation ultimately prevented the deal from happening.
This paved the way for Chelsea to secure Estevao's signature from Palmeiras in the summer of 2024 for an initial £29 million, a fee that could potentially rise to £55 million with add-ons.
Messi Comparisons and Managerial Caution
Following his dazzling goal against Barcelona, comparisons to Lionel Messi have begun to circulate. However, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was quick to dampen this hype, urging for patience with his young star.
"Estevao needs to relax, he needs to enjoy, he needs to session, he needs to play football," Maresca said. "Him, Lamine [Yamal], they are so young, 18, that if you start to talk about Messi, Ronaldo, I think it's too much pressure for young boys like them."
Maresca pointed out that the goal against Barcelona was reminiscent of one Estevao scored against Chelsea for Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup, highlighting the player's consistent talent.
The agent's concluding remarks will do little to settle nerves, as he confirmed that while Estevao is happy at Chelsea and respects his contract, he "has a special affection for Barca." This admission ensures that the transfer speculation surrounding one of football's most exciting talents is far from over.
