Sport
Chelsea Signs 17-Year-Old Brazilian Star Estevao Willian and Plans Attack Shake-Up
Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has highlighted a major shift in Chelsea’s strategy, focusing on 17-year-old Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian over Christopher Nkunku in their planning for the future.
Estevao Willian, one of Brazil’s brightest young talents, has officially signed with Chelsea and is set to join the Premier League club in the summer of 2025 after turning 18, in compliance with league regulations.
The deal, reportedly worth an initial €34 million, was struck with Palmeiras, beating stiff competition from several top European clubs keen to secure the services of the highly-rated teenager.
Currently, Estevao is a standout performer in Brazil’s Serie A, leading the league in goals and assists.
With 12 goals and 8 assists in just 27 appearances this season, he has already etched his name in Brazilian football as a record-breaking talent, even surpassing milestones set by Neymar in his youth.
Petit, speaking about Chelsea’s plans, noted that Estevao’s arrival would impact Nkunku’s role in the team.
Nkunku, who was a marquee signing from RB Leipzig, has had a promising yet challenging start at Chelsea, with injuries disrupting his momentum.
The French international has showcased his versatility and skill, both for his club and the French national team, but the arrival of Estevao could see him transition into a striker’s role to accommodate the young Brazilian in the attacking midfield position.
“Estevao Willian is a player of incredible quality.
At just 17, he has already broken Neymar’s records in Brazil, and his potential is limitless,” Petit explained during an interview.
“The Chelsea board is clear about their plans for him. He is being groomed for the number 10 role, a position he has excelled in back in Brazil.
This move reflects the club’s vision for the future, prioritizing youth and talent.”
Nkunku, on the other hand, remains an integral part of Chelsea’s setup.
His versatility allows him to adapt to different roles on the pitch, and while injuries have held him back, his performances when fit have been commendable.
Despite the shift in priorities, Petit emphasized that Chelsea is still keen to maximize Nkunku’s potential, especially in a more advanced role where his goal-scoring ability could be better utilized.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has praised Arsenal’s young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly after his standout performance in their 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.
The 18-year-old played the full match at the Bernabeu, helping Arsenal secure a historic victory with goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand was full of admiration for the teenager’s composure.
“Wait, Lewis-Skelly is really just 18?” he asked, clearly impressed. “He looks so calm and confident both on and off the ball.”
Ferdinand added that even before the match, Lewis-Skelly appeared relaxed and composed while taking a call, calling him a “special” player.
The young midfielder will now be hoping to keep up his strong form when Arsenal take on Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has pointed out what he sees as a big edge Paris Saint-Germain have over Arsenal in their upcoming Champions League semi-final clash.
Both teams secured their spots in the last four after PSG saw off Aston Villa and Arsenal pulled off a huge win against Real Madrid.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Cole praised Arsenal’s performance and the progress under Mikel Arteta, saying the club is in a great place despite falling out of the Premier League title race.
He noted that Arsenal have already faced PSG earlier in the competition, which helps reduce the element of surprise. However, he believes the real game-changer is that the second leg will be played in Paris.
With the away goals rule no longer in play, Cole thinks hosting the second leg gives PSG a significant advantage.
Still, he gave Arsenal full credit for their display at the Bernabeu, calling it a brilliant achievement.
The first leg will be held at the Emirates later this month, with the return match scheduled for May in Paris.
Bournemouth football club shows interest in signing Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye. The player is currently signed with Udinese.
The goalkeeper has secured an impressive record and gathered the interest of many clubs such as Serie A. Okoye has now captured the interest of Bournemouth with his impressive play.
It has been reported that the player still has three years left on his contract with Udinese.
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