Will Chelsea's own 'Little Messi' end their Club World Cup hopes?

Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian will either beryllium playing his last lucifer for his boyhood squad connected Friday, aliases knocking his early employers Chelsea retired of nan Club World Cup.

The 18-year-old's day pinch destiny comes aft Chelsea signed nan latest Brazilian sensation for an first £29.1m, pinch £19.7m owed successful add-ons, past summertime - earlier allowing him to enactment pinch his existent nine for different year.

And, aft beating title from nan likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, nan Blues besides agreed for Estevao to play for nan Sao Paolo outfit successful nan Club World Cup earlier joining Chelsea.

That near unfastened a possibility, nevertheless remote, that Chelsea could look Estevao earlier he joins - it will now hap astatine Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia arsenic nan sides meet successful nan quarter-finals.

"I dream he gives his champion for nan owners of Chelsea to spot each nan imaginable and value he has," said Palmeiras leader Abel Ferreira, whose broadside won nan Copa Libertadores successful 2021 to suffice for nan tournament.

"It will beryllium an opportunity for him to show really bully he is. We expect his best, to show his maximum, attack, take sides and opportunity goodbye to our fans.

"We helped him to turn arsenic a man and professional. It could beryllium a bully infinitesimal to springiness him a goodbye successful an astonishing game."

Chelsea head Maresca, however, didn't want to beryllium drawn into excessively overmuch comment, saying while he has met nan player's family, he is yet to talk pinch Estevao.

"We tin talk astir nan early erstwhile this title is finished," added Maresca.

"In this infinitesimal he is simply a Palmeiras subordinate and we are present to play nan crippled against Palmeiras, not Estevao and hopefully we tin win."

As nan United States celebrates Independence Day connected 4 July, Estevao will beryllium retired to show his skills to a caller assemblage of Chelsea supporters successful what is expected to beryllium a packed stadium of almost 70,000 for nan 21:00 (02:00 BST Saturday) kick-off.

"We, him and nan nine - everyone knew this could hap during nan negotiations," added Ferreira.

"He will show his committedness pinch us. But erstwhile he does that he is free to commencement pinch a caller club.

"I only want, while Estevao is pinch us, that he gives his best. He doesn't request to interest astir thing because nan agreements are each set. He conscionable needs to attraction connected playing good for Palmeiras and helping america because those clauses are already signed."

Estevao did not speak to nan media earlier nan lucifer arsenic Palmeiras looked to calm nan sound astir a young subordinate progressively successful nan spotlight for 1 of nan Brazilian club's biggest matches successful caller years.

But striker Jose Manuel Lopez said astir his young team-mate: "Estevao is from a bully family and a very respectful kid.

"He has won respective titles pinch us, go important for our team, and besides helped america triumph our past trophies. Everyone knows what he tin springiness connected nan field."

Midfielder Mauricio added: "Estevao is simply a awesome subordinate and a awesome friend. We ever make jokes during training and location is simply a relaxation. I deliberation this makes nan ambiance lighter.

"He is only 18, but he is mature and focused present to thief america to play."

Last season, Estevao became nan first subordinate nether nan property of 18 to execute 20 extremity involvements successful a azygous play successful Brazil's Serie A, breaking a grounds group by Neymar, by scoring 12 times and adding 8 assists.

The caller play successful South America restarted successful February and Estevao has registered 11 goals and 5 assists successful 36 matches successful each competitions.

In nan Club World Cup, he has won Superior Player of nan Match doubly and, possibly fittingly, impressed against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, having earned nan nickname Messinho - 'Little Messi' - successful Brazil.

Senior officials person privately expressed excitement astir Estevao's performances. Meanwhile, a salient root moving pinch Brazilian players told BBC Sport that Estevao is wide regarded arsenic a bigger talent than moreover Real Madrid's teenage guardant Endrick aliases Manchester City defender Vitor Reis.

However, location is besides an acceptance that he will request to beryllium eased successful initially while adapting to English football.

Estevao will subordinate a star-studded onslaught astatine Stamford Bridge, featuring Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, arsenic good arsenic caller signings Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.

In fact, Joao Pedro has become nan 18th guardant to motion for Chelsea successful conscionable complete 3 years nether their existent owners.

Chelsea supporters will beryllium excited to spot their caller £55m signing aft his move from Brighton - nan 23-year-old he striker was registered earlier nan 3 July deadline and has been training pinch his caller squad astatine Barry University successful Miami.

It intends Joao Pedro is expected to astatine slightest beryllium connected nan chair for nan quarter-final. "We are happy pinch Joao and will spot if we we're going to springiness him immoderate minutes," said Maresca.

Once Gittens joins nan nine aft nan tourney aft agreeing a move from Borussia Dortmund, nan Blues will person 17 guardant players connected their books

His presence to play arsenic either a correct winger aliases number 10 is expected to put Madueke's position astir nether threat successful nan longer term, but nary subordinate is being forced retired initially to facilitate his arrival.

Meanwhile, midfielder Romeo Lavia is simply a uncertainty for nan lucifer because of "muscular problems" and Moises Caicedo is suspended.