They say a week is a long time in politics, but it’s even longer in football, and Chelsea are a great example.
Just seven days ago, it would be fair to say that there were some questions over Enzo Maresca’s squad, as, although they had just beaten Benfica 1-0, the victory was hardly convincing.
Moreover, the Blues had lost 3-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion and 2-1 to Manchester United in their previous two Premier League games.
However, any genuine concerns over the direction of the club were quickly dispelled with a sensational 2-1 win over Liverpool thanks to a late Estevao goal.
It was the ideal way for the Brazilian to introduce himself to the wider league, although while he does seem destined for greatness, Chelsea once had a homegrown superstar in the making, whom they let go for nothing.
Why Estevao could be an international superstar for Chelsea
Despite still being just 18 years old, the expectations surrounding Estevao are sky-high, to the point where respected analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that he is a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”
That might sound like an absurd thing to say about someone so young, but the incredibly exciting wonderkid already has an impressive amount of first-team football under his belt.
For example, before making his way to Stamford Bridge this summer, the Franca-born gem racked up a brilliant tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances for Palmeiras.
Appearances
83
Minutes
5610′
Goals
27
Assists
15
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
Minutes per Goal Involvement
133.57′
Additionally, he has already won seven senior caps for the Brazilian national team, scoring his first goal in a 3-0 win over Chile in September.
Back in England, the left-footed prospect has continued to make progress. While he scored his first competitive goal for the Blues and grabbed the headlines in the process against Liverpool, he has also made quite an impression in his other games.
For example, on his first start, against West Ham United, it was his unreal close control and technique that allowed him to get past the Hammers’ backline and provide an assist for Joao Pedro.
In all, Estevao looks like he will be a world-class star for Chelsea, but so long as he stays out on the right, he’ll be in, compared to another former Blues gem, someone the club lost for free.
Chelsea's former Estevao
As with every other big club in the game, Chelsea have lost several outrageously talented youngsters over the years, from Jamal Musiala to Declan Rice and potentially even Rio Ngumoha.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
However, in this instance, the player in question is someone who could be rivalling Estevao for the title of best winger in the world a few years from now: Michael Olise.
The incredible Bayern Munich joined the West Londoners’ academy set-up in 2009 but ended up leaving in 2016, which, according to former Blues youth coach Sean Conlon, was a “mutual decision.”
The dynamic attacker would then travel to Manchester City before joining Reading’s academy, where he’d go on to make his senior debut and, after an impressive 20/21, in which he produced 19 goal involvements in 46 games, catch the eye of Crystal Palace, who paid £8m to sign him.
Over the next three years, the tremendously exciting Frenchman would make 90 appearances for the South Londoners, scoring 16 goals and providing 25 assists, and was lauded as “one of the best talents in the world” by former manager Oliver Glasner.
The former Cobham gem made his big-money move to Bayern last summer, and since moving to Germany, he has been on another level entirely.
For example, in his first campaign with FC Hollywood, the 23-year-old phenom scored 20 goals and provided 23 assists in just 53 appearances.
So far this season, instead of taking a slight step backwards following an outrageous first campaign in Germany, he appears to have become even more effective.
In just ten appearances across all competitions, the ten-capped superstar has scored five goals and provided six assists.
Ultimately, Chelsea have a future world-beater in Estevao, but they’d be an even better team had they kept hold of Olise all those years ago.
