Arsenal legend congratulates Chelsea on their £51 million signing Estevao Willian
Julio Baptista, a former superstar for Arsenal, congratulated Chelsea on their signing of Brazilian star Estevao Willian. After undergoing a medical earlier this week, the teenager is almost ready to become a Chelsea player, with the transfer happening when the teenager turns 18.
Football talent has always been abundant in Brazil, and Estevao Willian is no exception. There’s no denying the hype surrounding this young kid, with many already likening him to a football great like Lionel Messi.
If Chelsea decides to pay the entire £51 million transfer fee, the Palmeiras striker will become the most expensive signing involving a teenager from South America in history.
Recruiting young players from South America has been a major component of Chelsea’s transfer plan, with Todd Boehly and other influential Chelsea decision-makers securing players like Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, Angelo, and Kendry Paez.
The Arsenal legend, however, seems certain that the signing of Estevao will turn out to be perfect for the Blues. He told Oddspedia (h/t The Metro):
“Estevao Willian is an incredible talent coming out of Brazil but I don’t like him being compared to a player like Lionel Messi. The talent coming out of Brazil is incredible but the expectation can weigh on them a little bit. But he can become an incredible player and is a great signing for Chelsea.”
The comparisons Estevao is receiving at such an early stage in his career have irked Baptista. It is understandable because he hasn’t even started his career properly yet and comparisons to such great legends can cause a lot of pressure on the youngster.
Scouts and analysts from all over the world have taken notice of the 17-year-old’s ball-handling abilities, vision, and dexterity in confined situations. Estevao has the potential to be the next great thing for Chelsea and add to the legendary roster of Brazilian players that have adorned European football.
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Estevao’s challenge will be to control these expectations while honing his skills in a setting where competition is fierce. Given Chelsea’s inconsistent track record of developing players, Estevao’s success will largely depend on how the club handles him.