Eduardo Burgos has gradually emerged as one of the better sources in South America, working for AS in Spain.
His latest report has some very interesting stuff on the future of Chelsea’s most highly rated wonderkid.
Estevao Willian signed for us for a monster fee earlier this summer, but will remain on loan at his current club Palmeiras until next summer.
His successes there are mounting up even now the deal to move him on is done. There are incentives in the transfer for them to keep playing him, and he keeps performing.
It’s reached the point now where even the senior Brazil team, knocked out of the Copa America by Uruguay on penalties over the weekend, are having to take notice.
Burgos reports that the senior side are considering calling up Estevao for the World Cup Qualifiers starting in September. It sounds like he was remarkably close to going to the Copa America too, although he’s benefitted from not going by playing extra minutes for Palmeiras in that time, racking up goals and assists as Brazil’s top flight rolls on.
“The staff think that Estevao is a pure talent. For a long time they haven’t seen anything like this,” Burgo then claimed.
Chelsea already look to have secured home run signing
We can see why the club were so desperate to get this transfer done, and why they weren’t afraid to pay €65m or so to sign him, even as a 17 year old.
The moment he steps onto the pitch as a senior Brazil player his value takes another jump up. We may even have a clause in the contract that means we pay more to Palmeiras at that point – but nobody will be complaining. We really do look to have secured one of the very best out there.