Incoming Chelsea wonderkid Estevao clashes with Enzo Fernandez and multiple other future team-mates in heated Club World Cup quarter-final
Palmeiras wonderkid Estevao will soon be a Chelsea player but on Friday night they were the enemy.
That is certainly how it looked midway through the first half in Philadelphia when Estevao — who will complete his move to Stamford Bridge later this month — made a late challenge on Blues defender Levi Colwill.
Colwill stayed on the floor for almost a minute and Estevao was perhaps lucky to avoid a yellow card as he escaped with only a stern word from the referee.
Estevao was seemingly also on the receiving end of some stern words from Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella, who was seen shouting at his future team-mate in the aftermath.
The incident did not go unnoticed as dozens of Chelsea took to social media to react.
One wrote: ‘Estevao needs to calm down. Almost injured Colwill there’.
Palmeiras midfielder Estevao (green shirt) pictured challenging Chelsea defender Levi Colwill
Estevao will soon be a Chelsea player but his future team-mates were his enemies on Friday
Christopher Nkunku and Estevao pictured battling fiercely for the ball at Lincoln Financial Field
Another comment read: ‘That’s one way to announce yourself to Chelsea, right in the back of Colwill from Estevao.’
A third fan wrote: ‘Estevao left a late challenge on Colwill. Cucurella nearly slapped the boy but remembered he’s now team-mate.’
Estevao committed three fouls in total during the opening 45 minutes — more than any other player on the pitch.
But it was also pointed out by another Chelsea fan on X (formerly Twitter) that the rough stuff involving Estevao was not entirely one-sided.
Their tweet read: ‘First Cucurella and now Colwill going really hard at Estevao… a proper footballers welcome to his future team for Estevao!’
Indeed, shortly before half-time Enzo Fernandez was also lucky to avoid a yellow card after he hacked Estevao to the ground in midfield.
But Estevao did not appear to be intimidated and he responded in the perfect fashion eight minutes into the second half by scoring a stunning goal past keeper Robert Sanchez from a narrow angle.
That goal drew Palmeiras level after Cole Palmer’s early opener. But Chelsea eventually prevailed 2-1 following an 83rd-minute own goal by Agustin Giay.
Chelsea will now face Fluminense in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Chelsea No 8 Enzo Fernandez conceded a free-kick after kicking Estevao late in the first half
But Estevao responded perfectly by scoring a brilliant goal for Palmeiras in the second half
Estevao agreed his transfer to Chelsea last summer but was not allowed to move until after his 18th birthday, which was in April.
The Blues will pay £29million for the attacking midfielder, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in world football and has already made five senior appearances for Brazil.
He has dazzled in Brazil’s top flight with Palmeiras, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists last season to become the youngest ever winner of ESPN Brazil’s Player of the Year award at just 17.
Estevao will join a growing South American contingent at Stamford Bridge that includes compatriots Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro, as well as Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez, plus Fernandez of Argentina.
