Young Palmeiras forward Estevao Willian has revealed excitement as his move to English giants Chelsea edges closer, admitting difficulty in maintaining focus at the ongoing Club World Cup tournament.
Estevao, 18, is set to join the Blues after the tournament in the United States, after both clubs agreed an initial £29 million fee last summer.
For the young Brazilian who has gained comparison to the great Lionel Messi, the switch to England represents an achieved dream and a big step in his career.
He said; “It’s really hard [to focus]. [Going to Chelsea] is a dream coming true but knowing that I need to focus here first. It’s not easy.”
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“You have to maintain your focus here. And the closer it gets, the anxiety starts to hit, the butterflies in the stomach start to hit.
But I’m trying to focus as much as possible here, to leave everything I can on the pitch, to leave here well, with my head held high, through the front door, knowing that I did my best here”, he added.
Estevao has already shown glimpses of why he was one of the most sought after talents in football before a deal was agreed with Chelsea last summer.
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He claimed the player of the match award in Palmeiras’ first two games at the Club World Cup, after brilliant displays against Porto and Al Ahly, before another dazzling showing in the 2-2 draw against Messi’s Inter Miami in the early hours of Tuesday.
The 18-year old could also face his new side at the ongoing competition, as Palmeiras secured qualification into the knockout stages for a date against Botafogo, after a comeback 2-2 draw against Miami, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to secure the valuable point.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
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