ESteaua didn't think twice about how to celebrate his move to Chelsea. As soon as he signed from Palmeiras In a deal that could fetch more than £51 million, the Brazilian has decided to honor Cole Palmer in what could be a new era for the English club.
“When I signed for Chelsea the next day I scored and celebrated like Palmer. His celebration is trending, very popular,” Estevao says before discussing his first contact with the England forward. “We talked on social media and I tagged him on Instagram and he called me a star and I said he was a star too. “We're going to do a lot of great things together for Chelsea,” he said.
Palmer's promise to his future teammate may come as a surprise to many, but not to those following Esteva's progress. Brazil. At 17 he is the country's most exciting young talent since Neymar.
In addition to his performance, which has been described as better than that of Vinicius Jr. and Endric at the same age, Prodigy exhibits a less charismatic demeanor than his predecessors, who adopted a public profile surrounded by celebrities.
Big names in the Brazil national team were also impressed by Esteva. Recently called up for the first time for the games against Ecuador and Paraguay, which Brazil won and lost 1-0 respectively, he handed his call-up card to the country's No.1 goalkeeper. “In shooting practice, I started hitting all the shots and Alison got a little angry. He said he was still hot and I should wait a bit. But I took it a bit more seriously and scored many goals [against] Him,” Estevao laughs. “He took it all as a joke, but hopefully I can do it again against him next year [Premier League] Competitions. We will meet each other in England.
Estevao used his talent to overcome the tension of being called up to his country's senior position. “The first few days you get nervous, there's no way around it. You'll be more shy, but you'll start to bond and chat with the guys in training,” he says. “It helps a lot because on the pitch you show that you have the ability and why you are there. Then it gets easier and they start accepting you.
At the same time as having to deal with the stars of world football, Estevao also has to take care of teenage things like schoolwork, which he finds more difficult than his football opponents. “School is my whole day. It's not easy,” he says. “There are some tough lessons. Physics is very difficult. It is very difficult to remember formulas and how to make it.
Since the beginning of the year, Estêvão has been taking online classes due to Palmeiras' training and competition schedule. When he moves to Chelsea next year, he needs to maintain his school routine. “I will also study in London,” Estevao says. “But I'll be in the same school, online like I am now.”
Although not a model student, Estevao misses going to school and socializing with people his own age. “In Palmeiras, I see the same person every day. “When you're in school, you see different students, your class is always changing, new people are joining the school,” he says. “You have your best friend there. I miss it. There are people my age at school. In football, they are older and more experienced. Everyone treats me well, but it's different.
The move to London was the fourth event in Esteva's career. Born in Franca, in the countryside of São Paulo, he moved to Belo Horizonte at the age of eight to play for Cruzeiro. Coming from a poor background, he compares the hardships of those times to moving to London.
“The hardest move was from Franca to Belo Horizonte,” he says. “It was the first time, I was so young, it was my family, the people I loved, being away from school. It was a very different environment, a very different time. The journey was very difficult. I remember we did the whole move in a van, followed by a lorry. It was a great struggle. Now London will be easier. “You don't have to carry things in the van, you can buy everything there.”
Estevao has been dealing with fame since he was 10, when he was featured in a TV report. The appearance brought him to national attention and led to him signing his first contract with a sports equipment company. The deal also cast doubt on his future, with many fearing that Esteva's early popularity would hinder his rise. “It all happened very quickly, but my parents helped me a lot,” he says, “they protected me from everything that came from outside. I never really had much to do with what was going on, what people were saying or thinking about it. I am very grateful for everything my parents have done for me because that armor is so important.
“My father [Ivo] Helping me more on the pitch is my mother [Hetiene] It helps me from that. She helped me adapt to the day, life, the importance of eating well and to each new place. We've moved a lot. She always did everything for me. Can you imagine leaving home, away from your parents, to create a dream with me like my mother? My mother plays an important role in my life. She is the one who charges me daily and helps me understand life better.
Raised in a deeply religious environment, Estevao learned to play the drums in church and uses music to focus and relax before competitions. “I learned to play the drums when I was six or seven,” he says. “I saw one of my father's friends playing in church and I started liking it. Music helps me a lot. I grew up in church and I listen to a lot of gospel music. I always listen to it before matches. But when I listen to my own music, when I listen to my friends' music, I get lost. Guys love really dirty music.
Over the years, Estêvão has been dubbed Messino: “Little Messi”. It's a label and comparison that bothers the Brazilian, but he admits the Argentine is his greatest inspiration. “I also like Neymar a lot, Cristiano Ronaldo. But my point [Lionel] “For all that Messi has done for football,” Estevao says. “The way he plays and what he does off the pitch is a guy I always look up to. And, of course, for me, it's good for me to be left-footed like him.
“Some people are born with talent, others have to work hard. Good examples are Messi and Ronaldo. Messi has talent, Ronaldo has effort. Looking for both. Talent and commitment. Today in football you have to dedicate yourself, you have a schedule, train, travel, take care of yourself. You have to give up a lot. Without commitment you will get nowhere.
Estevao can emphasize the importance of effort, but quality makes the difference. He is proof of that. “I started as a goalkeeper because my father was a goalkeeper,” says Estevao.
“I used to go to games with him and the games were on dirty pitches. I saw him play a lot. I liked to watch him and then I started to like it, because of him I wanted to be a goalkeeper, but then I decided to play in the line. Changing positions was a good decision, otherwise I definitely wouldn't be where I am today.
Estevao has opted for Chelsea after being courted by several of the biggest clubs in European football and is looking forward to joining them ahead of next season. “I chose Chelsea because of their schedule. I was very happy with that,” he says. “Not just for me, but for my family. It is the corporation that believed in me and put faith in my work. I hope I can pay it back.
One of the projects offered to Estêvão was the opportunity to play as a number 10, having played at youth level rather than as a right winger, whereas he has appeared for Palmeiras and the Brazil national team.
However, is he worried that the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku cannot prove successful at Stamford Bridge? “It doesn't bother me because everyone is different,” he says. “I don't know the context or what they were like. I have to find my place and I have to give my full effort every day.
Estevao is still young but has already achieved a lot, not to mention big ambitions, and has a clear mind about his future. “I want to win titles and show all my potential, I want to show everything I can do,” he says. “World Cup, Premier League and Champions League champion. That's what I want.
“My biggest dream is to be the best player in the world. That is my dream. One day I will be among the best. But I am not going to promise or promise that I will achieve this in a few years. It comes naturally. “
