Estevao – Things are beginning to click for Chelsea. After an inconsistent start under Enzo Maresca, the Blues now sit second in the Premier League, with a chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to just three points this weekend.
And on Tuesday night, they sent a statement across Europe with a stunning 3-0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League — a performance that reminded everyone how dangerous this young Chelsea side can be.
Among the standout performers was Estevão, the 18-year-old Brazilian whose fearless display lit up Stamford Bridge. And if fresh reports are to be believed, Chelsea could soon try to unite the teenage prodigy with the player many see as his footballing predecessor — Vinícius Júnior.
Chelsea linked with Real Madrid superstar
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are one of several clubs monitoring Vinícius, with the Blues and Manchester City both ready to move if Real Madrid open the door next summer. Despite having just one year left on his contract by then, Madrid would reportedly still demand around £80 million for their Brazilian star.
It’s a huge figure, but for a player of Vinícius’s calibre — and global appeal — Chelsea might just consider it worth the investment. The winger has been central to Real’s success in recent years and is widely regarded as one of the most explosive forwards in world football.
Why Vinícius is the “original Estevao ”
The comparisons between Vinícius and Estevão are easy to make — both are Brazilian, both are devastatingly quick, and both play with the kind of flair that gets fans out of their seats. But beyond that, their career trajectories share striking similarities.
Before Estevão’s arrival in London, analysts were already calling him a “future Ballon d’Or winner.” Likewise, when Vinícius made the switch from Flamengo to Real Madrid in 2018, club president Florentino Pérez described him as “one of the great hopes of world football.”
While Vinícius took time to settle in Spain, his numbers since then speak volumes. The 25-year-old has 111 goals and 92 assists in 340 appearances for Los Blancos, helping them to two Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and a Copa del Rey.
According to FBref data, he ranks in the top 1% of wingers in Europe for progressive carries, top 3% for successful take-ons, and top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.
A mentor and a mirror
For Chelsea, signing Vinícius wouldn’t just add world-class firepower — it could accelerate Estevao development, giving the young winger a role model who’s already lived the dream he’s chasing.
As Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário recently said, “Vinícius is the best player in the world right now.” If the Blues can tempt him to Stamford Bridge, they’d be uniting two generations of Brazilian brilliance — and signalling their intent to dominate both England and Europe once again.
