Let’s have a look at who BBC Sport’s TV and radio commentators have picked as the Chelsea player to watch out for in the next few months.
Estevao Willian
Age: 18 Position: Winger Country: Brazil
Advertisement
Conor McNamara: I commentated on Estevao’s debut for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen and the kid is a star.
He showed an excellent poachers’ instinct to score his first goal in Chelsea blue, reacting well after Cole Palmer’s shot had come back off the crossbar – but Estevao’s game is all about running with the ball at high speed.
He only turned 18 in April, but the Brazilian looks the real deal.
It’s early days of course, but he already seems to have a telepathy with Palmer – when the England international backheeled the ball on the edge of the area against Leverkusen, Estevao knew it was coming and got his shot away.
Advertisement
Mark Scott: I’m commentating at the Bridge on Sunday and Estevao is the player I’m most excited about seeing.
Regarded by many as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinicius Junior, he gave Chelsea fans a taste of his ability with a cracker against them at the Club World Cup, and has since impressed in a blue shirt with a sparkling showing in the friendly win over Leverkusen.
That electric performance showcased the abilities that have led to all the hype – immense quality on the ball and extreme confidence and flair driving at defenders with it.
Estevao is versatile as well, able to play on either flank or as a number 10. Chelsea’s plan was to ease him in gradually, but they might have to re-think that.
