Estevao Willian will be playing at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer but the teenage winger will not be doing so in a Chelsea shirt, as per the agreement to sign him over 12 months agoThere will be plenty of eyes – particularly from a Chelsea perspective – on Estevao Willian in the United States this summer. The incoming Blues winger will be playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, but not for his new employers.Chelsea agreed a deal with Palmeiras over 12 months ago for Estevao to move to Stamford Bridge this summer, although part of the agreement was for the teenager to represent the Brazilians in the upcoming Club World Cup. An initial fee of £29million was paid to Palmeiras with add-ons potentially increasing the overall price to £52million, football.london understandsThe 18-year-old is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football at the moment, with many dubbing him the ‘next Neymar’, and Chelsea have enormous plans for him. There will be a settling in period in England, there is no doubt about that, given his age and moving to a different continent with a very different culture. Not to mention the actual football.
A natural right winger, there will be stern competition for Estevao to break into the Chelsea first team. Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke, who have both played on the left this season, are viewed as natural right-sided options. While neither of them have set the world alight this term, their experience and knowhow might well see them preferred to Estevao at the beginning of next season.
For Estevao, the Club World Cup is a fantastic opportunity to show what he is all about. Many are aware of his talent already, but to do it on a stage where the whole world will be watching is a different ball game. Given his meteoric rise already, though, you would not put anything past this young lad.
