Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira is hoping for Estevao Willian to say one final goodbye to the Brazilian club’s supporters by hurting his new employers in Chelsea.
The 18-year-old will join the Blues once his participation at the FIFA Club World Cup is over with Palmeiras. Estevao has started every game at the competition thus far and is set to feature in his fifth on Friday in Philadelphia against the club he is joining.
Ferreira’s press conference was understandably dominated by the prospect of Estevao featuring against Chelsea and if Palmeiras were to be beaten by the Blues, it would be the teenager’s final game for the Brazilians. Ferreira will be hoping that is not the case at the Lincoln Financial Field but either way, he is hoping for some form of farewell message from Estevao.
Speaking in his pre-Chelsea press conference on Thursday, Ferreira was asked if he has spoken to Estevao about the bizarre situation he finds himself in. The Portuguese said: “Look, I don’t speak with him. He knows what he needs to do for tomorrow.
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“I hope he gives his best for the owners of Chelsea – he has potential and lots of quality. It will be an opportunity for him to show how good he is. We helped him to grow as a man, as a professional, it can be a good moment to give him the goodbye with one amazing game. Maybe he can score a goal to say goodbye to our fans.”
Ferreira continued: “We, him and the club – everyone knew this could happen during the negotiations. Everyone knew he could play. So he will do what he does. I don’t have to say anything. He has to do his job. He won’t play alone. Nobody plays alone in my team.
“We play as a team. We work together. We lose and win together. He will do what he always does. As long as he is playing with us, he has this commitment with us and once he finishes his commitments with Palmeiras, he is free to start with his new club.”
Chelsea agreed a deal with Palmeiras last summer to bring Estevao to the club 12 months later. The Blues have paid an initial £29 million to the Brazilians – but the fee will rise should performance-related add-ons be triggered. Speaking to The Players’ Tribune April about why he decided to move to Stamford Bridge, the teenage winger said: “A of people are asking me why we chose Chelsea, but they don’t understand how much Chelsea wanted me, and how much belief they have in my potential.
“Those people don’t know about the project they presented to us. To a young player, these things matter a lot, and I know we’ve made the right decision to go to London.”
