Estevao Delivers Dazzling Performance Against Chelsea in Palmeiras Swan Song
Blues supporters had more than one motivation to watch Chelsea secure their spot in the Club World Cup semifinals against Palmeiras.
The quarterfinal encounter also featured soon-to-be Chelsea attacker Estêvão Willian competing against the squad he'll join as a teammate in just a few weeks.
Significant anticipation has surrounded the young Brazilian's move to Stamford Bridge since Chelsea secured his services for an estimated £29 million ($37 million at the time) with additional clauses approximately a year ago.
In a twist of destiny, Estêvão's farewell match for his boyhood team turned out to be against his incoming club.
Here's an analysis of how Estêvão performed when facing Chelsea in the Club World Cup quarterfinals.
Estêvão Willian vs. Chelsea
Estêvão featured for the full 90 minutes against Chelsea, delivering a display that showcased more positives than negatives.
The teenage winger engaged in numerous duels with Marc Cucurella throughout the opening period. The Spanish defender welcomed his prospective teammate with an aggressive challenge early on that appeared to frustrate him, prompting Estêvão to respond with tough tackles on Levi Colwill and Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea's dominance in ball retention limited Estêvão's impact on proceedings, though this dynamic shifted dramatically after halftime.
The Brazilian emerged as a threat immediately following the interval as Palmeiras appeared rejuvenated. Then came his moment of brilliance. Eight minutes after the restart, Estêvão reached a low delivery ahead of Colwill, controlling it with his first touch toward the goal line, seemingly leaving himself without a shooting opportunity. Without even glancing up, the youngster unleashed a near-post strike with his weaker foot that crashed against the crossbar before finding the net for Palmeiras' leveling goal.
Chelsea supporters may have been surprised to witness Estêvão's passionate celebration as it threatened their Club World Cup journey, but once the match concluded with Chelsea's victory, even they would acknowledge it was an exceptional finish.
While Estêvão's talent was evident, it's clear he remains a developing prospect rather than a polished performer. His 41 touches and 18 passing attempts were the fewest among starting outfield players, and he lost more individual battles than any other participant with nine defeats. Nevertheless, his ability shone through as he appeared comfortable on the big stage, consistently seeking to create opportunities in attacking areas. FotMob awarded him a match rating of 7, matching the highest score among Palmeiras players.
"He possesses tremendous ability, exceptional talent, and is a wonderful player. The challenge when arriving from South America or elsewhere is the adaptation process. We will support him in settling in, finding happiness, and enjoying his football. We have complete confidence he will become a key contributor for Chelsea," commented Enzo Maresca following the encounter.
Estêvão showed clear emotion at the final whistle after completing his last appearance for his beloved club. However, he was immediately embraced by several future colleagues who had now observed his capabilities up close.
Estêvão Says Goodbye to Palmeiras
Twelve months after his transfer was confirmed, the São Paolo-born player says farewell to his hometown team. Following his professional debut for El Verdão on Dec. 7, 2023, Estêvão featured in 83 matches, netting 27 goals while providing 15 assists.
He departs as Palmeiras' third-highest transfer fee received, trailing only Real Madrid's Endrick and Manchester City's Vitor Reis.