Estevao picked up a minor injury while on international duty.
Image credit: @EstevaoWillian7
Chelsea’s rising star Willian Estevao has been told to rest after returning from international duty with Brazil.
As reported by The Mirror, the 17-year-old, who will officially join Chelsea next summer from Palmeiras, picked up a thigh injury following his involvement in Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Despite his desire to immediately resume training, Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira insisted that Estevao needed to recover. Ferreira said, “When he arrived, he hadn’t slept at all and wanted to train. But we told him no, to go home, sleep, recover. Since we have time, we can take care of the players and play games with this intensity.”
Estevao, who can play as a winger or attacking midfielder, has been in remarkable form this season, equalling Neymar’s 2009 record for the most goals and assists by a 17-year-old in Brazil’s top flight.
With nine goals and seven assists to his name, Estevao has made a significant impact. However, his injury will keep him out of Palmeiras’ upcoming match against Vasco da Gama.
Chelsea, meanwhile, is already laying the groundwork for Estevao’s arrival. The club plans to bring him to their Cobham training facility to help with his acclimatization before his move to London next summer.
The Brazilian has signed an eight-year contract with Chelsea, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been monitoring Estevao’s development closely.
He’s performing fantastically, but unfortunately he’s performing there and not here. We’ll wait until next summer when he arrives, but we’re very happy with the way he’s doing things.
While the injury may be a minor setback, Estevao’s future with Chelsea looks promising as the club prepares for his arrival next year.