"He has a lot to show and will surprise many people" - Brazil star says Chelsea-bound player is similar to Neymar Jr
Brazilian forward Felipe Anderson has likened Chelsea-bound teenager Estevao Willian to Neymar Jr, tipping the youngster to have a big future. The 17-year-old forward is set to join the Blues in the summer of 2025 after they reached an agreement with Palmeiras.
Estevao Willian first came to the knowledge of the media when, at 15, PSG made an attempt to sign him from Palmeiras. The youngster has grown in leaps and bounds since then, becoming a key player for his club despite his youth and joining Chelsea.
Former West Ham United and Lazio star Felipe Anderson has witnessed, first-hand, the development of the teenager into one of the finest youngsters in world football. In an interview via ESPN, Anderson, who plays for Palmeiras, revealed that he sees similarities between Estevao and Neymar, who he played with at Santos.
"I've known Neymar since he was in the under-15s, I saw what he could do in the professional league, he kept improving and, when he arrived, he surprised even us. This has been happening with Estevão every day that passes. In each training session, in each game, he has done different things, he hasn't reached that limit."
"He is constantly growing. We hope he doesn't stop any time soon and can reach higher levels. The difficulty he imposes on his opponents to mark him is similar to Neymar. He has been swinging 10 meters from his marker (laughs). He can go deep, to the right, to the left. I think he has a lot to show and will surprise many people still."
Estevao is not with the Brazil squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers, having made the squad in September. The youngster has only just recovered from a thigh injury which he picked up while on duty with the Palmeiras squad.
Estevao Willian has contributed nine goals and seven assists in 23 league appearances for Palmeiras this season. The youngster has equalled Neymar's tally of 16 league goal contributions in a season aged 17 and is en route to bettering his tally.
"He will be a genius" - When Neymar spoke about Chelsea-bound youngster
Chelsea beat a number of top European sides to sign Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian from Palmeiras, and the deal looks like a good one already. He commanded a fee of around €55 million, making him one of the most expensive exports from Brazil.
The former PSG man left Brazil for Europe after tearing up the league from an early age, and he spoke about Estevao back in June. He referred to the youngster as a genius and a great talent in Brazilian football.
He said via ESPN:
''He is a great talent that is emerging in Brazilian football today, I think he's going to be a genius."
Since Neymar's comments, Estevao Willian has gone on to make his senior debut for the Brazil national team in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. The youngster is expected to immediately join up with the first team at Chelsea next summer.