Chelsea fans have wasted no time forming firm opinions on new signing Estevao after his standout debut against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 18-year-old lit up Stamford Bridge on Friday, netting the opener in Chelsea’s 2-0 pre-season victory and emerging as their most dangerous attacking threat in the first half.
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Dominating possession, the Blues took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Estevao’s sharp finish, before adopting a calmer approach in the second half.
Joao Pedro then sealed the win late on, extending his scoring streak and capping off a confident start to Chelsea’s pre-season campaign.
Estevao shines on debut to silence Chelsea fans’ concerns
With just two warm-up matches — against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan — before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace next weekend, some Chelsea fans worried about how quickly the club’s new signings would settle.
But Estevao wasted no time easing those fears.
The 18-year-old winger, who officially joined in a £29 million deal from Palmeiras after competing in the Club World Cup, marked his debut in style by scoring just 18 minutes in, sparking excitement among supporters about his bright future at Stamford Bridge.
Fans react to Estevao’s debut
Reacting to his performance on X, one Chelsea fan wrote:
“Estevao has scored on his debut!! A star is born!”
While another wrote:
“Estevão needed just 18 minutes to score on his Chelsea debut and celebrated with a badge kiss. Premier League, you’ve been warned.”
While one hit out at former winger Noni Madueke, joking:
“Palmer went from Madookie slip and slide to Estevao joga bonito as his running mate.”
Estevao faces fierce competition at Chelsea
During the Club World Cup, the 18-year-old played in all five of Palmeiras’ matches, even scoring against his future employers in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory that secured a place in the semi-finals.
However, with fellow new signing Jamie Gittens – a £51.5 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund – also catching the eye, and reports linking the Blues with a move for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao’s long-term role in the Chelsea squad is yet to be determined.
Which players are removed from Chelsea’s website
Meanwhile, nine Chelsea players still contracted to the club have been quietly removed from the official website, raising questions about their future at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling, once a star for both Liverpool and Manchester City, appears to be among those Chelsea are actively looking to sell. His exclusion from the official team list suggests the club sees no future for him at Stamford Bridge.
Joining him on the missing list are striker Armando Broja and midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, both reportedly close to sealing transfers to Burnley.
Academy product Alfie Gilchrist is also not listed. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Sheffield United and is now reportedly drawing interest from Championship sides and Saudi Arabian clubs.
Ben Chilwell, signed from Leicester City for a reported £45 million in 2020, is another high-profile omission. New boss Enzo Maresca has reportedly sidelined him, raising speculation over his future.
Defender Axel Disasi, new signing Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, and forward David Datro Fofana are also missing from the online squad list, according to a report by The Mirror.
Man United star changes name ahead of Chelsea move
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Alejandro Garnacho has made a subtle yet significant change to his name as speculation around his Manchester United future intensifies.
The Argentine winger, once seen as a cornerstone of the club’s future, is now one of several high-profile players who could be heading for the exit.
Source: YEN.com.gh
