Estevao Willian finding it ‘really hard to focus’ at Club World Cup with Palmeiras as dream Chelsea move edges closer
Updated 24/06/2025 at 10:51 GMT+1
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Incoming Chelsea forward Estevao Willian has admitted the “butterflies in the stomach” have hit now that his move to the Premier League is just days away. The 18-year-old agreed a deal to join the Blues last summer and the Palmeiras player will make the switch when the FIFA Club World Cup is over. Chelsea agreed an initial fee of £29.1 million for Estevao, who has been compared to Lionel Messi.
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Estevao Willian has admitted he’s struggling to keep his mind on the task at hand at the Club World Cup as his move to Chelsea edges closer.
The Brazilian will head to Stamford Bridge and link up with Blues boss Enzo Maresca when the tournament ends, having agreed a deal to leave Palmeiras last summer.
For the 18-year-old forward, it represents a "dream coming true" but he will have to wait a little longer after Palmeiras topped Group A.
"It's really hard [to focus]," Estevao told TNT Sports Brazil. "[Going to Chelsea] is a dream coming true but knowing that I need to focus here first. It's not easy.
"You have to maintain your focus here. And the closer it gets, the anxiety starts to hit, the butterflies in the stomach start to hit.
"But I'm trying to focus as much as possible here, to leave everything I can on the pitch, to leave here well, with my head held high, through the front door, knowing that I did my best here."
Such is the hype behind Estevao that he has been described by some as the next Lionel Messi. In all competitions, Estevao has registered 26 goals and 15 assists in 81 appearances for Palmeiras.
He also went up against Inter Miami and Messi in his side's final group match at the Club World Cup.
Miami were on top for the majority with Luis Suarez’s 65th-minute strike making it 2-0, but Palmeiras came roaring back, finding the net twice in the last 10 minutes to rescue a point in a 2-2 thriller.
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Up next for Palmeiras is a meeting with a familiar foe in fellow Brazilian Serie A club Botafogo, who progressed through Group B at the expense of Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea fans will have another chance to watch Estevao in action as the Brazilian sides battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals, before he eventually joins the Premier League outfit to wear the famous blue shirt.
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