Chelsea Catch a Glimpse of Estevao’s Brilliance as Club World Cup Journey Progresses
In an emotional night, Chelsea fans got their first real look at Estevao – and he did not disappoint. The Palmeiras teenager, who’s already secured a move to Stamford Bridge, lit up the Club World Cup quarter-final with a moment of pure magic, even as his side fell to defeat.
It was bittersweet for Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira, who called the youngster “my son” and could barely hold back tears after the final whistle. Estevao, unfazed by the pressure, scored a stunning goal to level the tie in the second half. A sharp turn, a flash of skill, and in an instant, the ball was past Roberto Sanchez.
Tradition says you don’t celebrate against your former club. But what about your future club? Estevao celebrated anyway – and Chelsea certainly noticed.
Post-match, the farewell between Ferreira and Estevao was heartfelt. “I love this guy,” said Ferreira, his voice cracking. The teenage forward sat beside him, shy but proud, ready to say his goodbye.
“Dear teacher [Ferreira], thank you so much for everything,” said Estevao. “I love this guy so much. I thank God every day to have put Abel in my life and he taught me if you are not tracking back you won’t play.
He taught me how to play and he trained me. I learned a lot with him and I thank God that Abel and Palmeiras are in my life. They opened the door to me. I was deeply happy in Palmeiras and my family know how thankful I am.”
His parting words summed it all up – gratitude, pride, and a clear sense of purpose. Estevao now heads back to Brazil, packing his bags for a big move to London.
For Chelsea, the win means a semi-final showdown against Fluminense in New Jersey on Tuesday. Enzo Maresca’s side had the edge throughout. They dominated possession, they had the chances, but Palmeiras refused to make it easy. In the end, a late deflection sealed it – Malo Gusto’s shot ricocheting off Agustin Giay to find the back of the net.
Chelsea looked strong but not flawless. Cole Palmer opened the scoring early, gliding through the Palmeiras defence to slot home. But the Blues missed chances to kill the game off and paid for it briefly when Estevao struck.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Reece James was withdrawn after feeling tightness in the warm-up. His planned midfield role – with Moises Caicedo suspended and Romeo Lavia injured – was handed to Brazilian youngster Andrey Santos instead.
More frustration followed. Yellow cards for Liam Delap and Levi Colwill will see both miss the next match. But there were positives too. João Pedro, Chelsea’s £50 million signing, made his debut from the bench and looked sharp. Noni Madueke also made a lively appearance as the pair came on shortly after Palmeiras equalised.
Pedro Neto, who started, played in memory of his late friend Diogo Jota. Meanwhile, new signing Jamie Gittens – fresh from Borussia Dortmund – was present at the stadium but won’t be part of the squad in the US just yet.
Speaking after the match, Maresca was full of praise for the teenager. “I spoke with Estevao for the first time, and I told him it was the perfect night,” the Chelsea manager said. “We won and he scored… we are going to help him adapt and first of all to be happy. We don’t have any doubt he will be a very important player for Chelsea.”
But Estevao had already been given a typically English welcome by Marc Cucurella, who introduced himself with a few firm tackles in the first half. No soft landings here.
The Brazilian wonderkid made sure to address the media on his own terms this time. “I want to open up my heart because last time you misinterpreted my words,” he said.
“What my father says is he wants me to give my best on the pitch and this is what I did today. I did everything I could to score a goal. We cannot win every day. Now we have to move on. I will cheer Palmeiras on and I am so happy to have been part of this club.”
Cole Palmer summed up the mood in the Chelsea camp. “He’s got amazing quality and we look forward to seeing him.” Palmer laughed as he admitted he went over to Estevao after the game but “he didn’t understand a word I said.”
Abel Ferreira had the final word. The Palmeiras manager, visibly emotional, spoke directly to Chelsea. “You bought an amazing player but more than this you bought an amazing person,” he said. “He is an 18-year-old kid… you need to take care of him. You need to embrace him and in the beginning, for sure he will make mistakes… he is a player who can win a game alone.”
“It’s the first time he left his country,” Ferreira added. “In England, the sun appears two or three times a year and the night comes early but for sure, with help, Chelsea have the conditions to support him.”
One thing’s certain – Estevao has arrived, and Chelsea fans can’t wait to see what’s next.
For more on Estevao’s rise and what Chelsea fans can expect, read Estevao Shines as Chelsea’s Future Star in Club World Cup Thriller.
