Top-Talent im Interview
©IMAGO
Neither the status as the next jewel of Brazil nor the 34 million euros paid by Chelsea FC and the impending move to distant England scare Estêvão. The 17-year-old is the top goalscorer and scorer in the Série A and even surpassed world star Neymar in the season before he came of age.
The right winger from Palmeiras has twelve goals and eight assists in 27 league games; Neymar’s record as a 17-year-old from the 2009 season was ten goals and six assists in 33 appearances. If Estêvão defends his top spot in the top scorers list, he would be the youngest top scorer in Série A history. It’s hardly surprising that he is also considered a hot contender for the best player of the year award.
The offensive talent attributes a large part of his success to coach Abel Ferreira, who helped him make his professional debut last December at the age of 16 years and seven months. “Abel taught me to understand the game. When I was younger, whether I wanted to or not, I had a lot of protection, I didn’t have to come back so often to score a goal, I didn’t have to fill so many roles, I could go from side to side. Abel came to me and explained it to me, helped me. He told me that it would not only help me now, but for the rest of my career. I started taking on more tasks. That helped me to be in the starting eleven at Palmeiras,” says Estêvão in an interview with Transfermarkt.
When you have a coach like Abel, you’re not afraid of anyone.
Before moving to Europe, Estêvão wants to defend the championship title. Five game days before the end of the season, Palmeiras is four points behind league leaders Botafogo. Estêvão will be on the pitch for Palmeiras until the new Club World Cup next summer, then he will go to England. The fact that his transfer fee can even increase to over 60 million euros through bonuses shows the expectations. Estêvão sees itself well prepared for the jump into the Premier League thanks to sponsor Ferreira.
“When you have a coach like Abel, you’re not afraid of anyone. You go through all the phases with him,” says Estêvão, laughing. The Portuguese previously coached SC Braga and PAOK Thessaloniki in Europe. “Abel is a guy who often pulls your ears. He is a European coach with a European profile. I learn a lot from him.”
Estêvão will meet Chelsea coach Maresca in London in December
When Estêvão decided to join Chelsea, the coach was still called Mauricio Pochettino. Enzo Maresca has been on the Blues bench since the start of the season. Estêvão reveals that he had no contact with either of them. In December, after the end of the season in Brazil, he will meet Maresca in London and get to know the city better.
“Everyone tells me about Big Ben. I haven’t done much research yet, but I’ve learned a few things on the internet. I’m looking forward to seeing London. Everyone says that it is one of the best cities in the world, that it attracts a lot of tourists and everyone praises it. That was also a decisive factor in my decision to go to Chelsea. We will go there at the end of the year. They say it’s cold, but we’re prepared for it,” says Estêvão calmly. While he is breaking new ground in football, something remains the same: school.
“I still have a long way to go before I finish school. There is still another year to complete. I said it wasn’t easy,” says Estêvão with a grin, but he doesn’t have to change schools. “I learn online. I don’t go to school anymore. The teachers send me the recorded lessons and I watch them on my phone. You send me the tasks, I edit them and send them to you. And then I take the exams. Sometimes there are tests and practices the night before a game, on the day of the game. There is no way around it, you have to learn and do it.” He is sometimes teased by his teammates for this. “The guys on the team always joke and joke with me that I need to learn more.”
Estêvão is also preparing for his new club in terms of language. “I take English lessons whenever I can because there are weeks with a lot of games where I can’t do it. I’m learning well, I’m putting a lot of effort into learning the language,” says the talent, who wants to surpass the likes of Thiago Silva (40), David Luiz (37) and Willian (36) at Chelsea. “I want to make history and become the most successful Brazilian in the club’s history. I want to win titles and show my full potential, show everything I can do.”
Estêvão calls for patience for changes in Brazil’s national team
Estêvão is also leaving his first traces in the Seleção. He made his debut in September, at 17 years and four months, he was younger than Ronaldo. “Playing for Brazil is not a burden for me. It’s a joy,” says Estêvão. “It was a dream that I fulfilled. As a child I always said that one day I would be there and I managed to fulfill that dream. I was very happy and hope that I can wear the national team jersey more often.”
The Seleção has been in upheaval since saying goodbye to long-time coach Tite. Since the beginning of 2023, three trainers have been on the sidelines, and Brazil is proving unusually vulnerable in the World Cup qualification. “I know how hard everyone works to bring joy to the Brazilian fans. It hurts, but I understand the fans,” said Estêvão about the supporters’ dissatisfaction. “It’s a time of change, we’re still trying to find a way to play. The criticism hurts, but everyone is working hard to change that.”
To the original interview by Thiago Rabelo on Transfermarkt.com.br
