How Estevao became Chelsea's £104m wonderkid: The inside story of how Blues won race for Brazilian, how he can emulate Cole Palmer and why Enzo Maresca should put his faith in teenager against Barcelona

Following last season's horror story, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally football-free zones for Manchester United fans and so they are left to choose which Champions League clashes might take their fancy.

Tempting as it may be to pretend it's not happening at all without them and choose I’m A Celebrity , Chelsea v Barcelona on Tuesday night is hardly a terrible option if they are searching for an affiliation. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are likely to be on the left wings at Stamford Bridge.

They started together 39 times for United but now, they are two rivals showing their worth to their new clubs, one a £40million signing for the Blues and the other on loan at Barcelona with an option to buy for a similar fee next summer.

That should be an intriguing storyline in itself, though for a glimpse of the game's future, perhaps our gazes ought to be reserved for the right flanks instead.

For that is where we can expect to find Estevao and Lamine Yamal in what could be a battle of the world’s best 18-year-olds. It will be the first time they have shared a pitch as professionals, though presumably not the last, with plenty predicting these two will be competing for Ballons d’Or in the coming years.

They are the super-starlets of the Brazil and Spain national teams, and the two most valuable teenagers if those tapping away at their super-computers are to be believed. Indeed, the CIES Football Observatory reckon Estevao and Yamal are worth £104m and £308m respectively in today’s market – not that either is up for sale.

Estevao Willian officially joined Chelsea from Palmeiras earlier this year after turning 18, in a deal that could rise to £55million

Chelsea had been tracking Estevao (right) for years via their international scouting network

Barcelona were among those tracking Estevao when Chelsea, whose recruitment department is led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, signed him on a pre-agreement at 17 years old in 2024. He joined from Palmeiras upon turning 18, for £29m rising to £55m in the summer, being billed by outsiders as ‘the next Neymar ’ at the time.

The Brazilian's agent is Andre Cury, a former Nike executive who had helped Barca sign a long list of South Americans over the years, including Neymar when he joined from Santos in 2013.

Cury’s relationship with Barca is so close that when reports emerged alleging he had earned a healthy £5.9m commission on Neymar’s sale to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the Spanish club released a statement threatening legal action, writing: ‘Mr Cury has a non-exclusive contractual relationship with the club, through his company, to undertake scouting.’

Despite this powerful football figure's history of helping Barcelona land Neymar, Paulinho, Yerry Mina, Philippe Coutinho, Arthur Melo and more – and Estevao himself previously being quoted as saying playing for Barca would be a ‘dream’ – Cury did not take his client to the Nou Camp this time.

He had taken another Brazilian wonderkid in Vitor Roque there on a pre-agreement penned at the age of 17 the previous year. Once 18, he signed a long contract which included a staggering £427m buyout clause. Reports said he cost £25.6m rising to £52m.

However, there appeared frustration at how the 18-year-old was then handled, a lack of opportunities meaning he spent barely a single season at Barca. He is now 20 and back in Brazil with Palmeiras.

Instead, Chelsea won the race for the left-footed right-sided Estevao. How? Time was of the essence, especially with Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich and more circling.

Chelsea had been tracking him for years via their international scouting network. He had become the youngest Brazilian to sign a sponsorship deal with Nike at the age of 10, so his blossoming talent was hardly a big secret, but we are told the Blues got down to business earlier than their rivals.

Estevao is new to the Premier League but has already impressed to the extent Chelsea fans want him to start more often

Eventually, Chelsea fans can expect to see Estevao being used in a central position rather than on the right, in a transition similar to what we have seen with Cole Palmer

They did not need to waste time doing extra homework – Alysson Marins is now one of their chief scouts based in Brazil and Daily Mail Sport understands he is flying to London for Tuesday's Champions League clash – and, crucially, Estevao had long been aware of Chelsea’s interest, too.

Sources within Stamford Bridge say their landing of Estevao before everyone else was largely to do with the conviction and personality of the player. He had his choice of projects and chose theirs, having known of their plans for his progress for some time.

Eventually, we can expect to see Estevao being used in a central position rather than on the right, in a transition similar to what we have seen with Cole Palmer, who now plays as a No 10 for Chelsea.

The Blues’ recruiters also benefitted from having the backing of their owners to complete such a signing. Not every executive would sanction a minimum £29m purchase of a prospect still only 17, but they are glad they did now.

Chelsea are in no rush to overuse him. He is new to the Premier League, they want to protect him, and there is plenty of time. He is contracted until 2032, after all.

Enzo Maresca said when asked about Estevao and Yamal yesterday: 'Estevao is already playing at a high level. He is already starting for Brazil. For sure, he is very young, for sure he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him. It's nice for people that love football to watch players like Estevao, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri.

'This is the beauty of football. We are happy that Estevao is with us, and for sure he is going to do well. He has to enjoy football, he has to be happy, he has to not think about being better than this player or that player.

'He has just to be better than himself, day by day, try to work hard, improve. He is going to be a top player for this club.’

Estevao had his choice of projects and chose Chelsea's, having known of their plans for his progress for some time

Estevao has scored in his last six starts for club and country, three for Chelsea and four for Brazil

Yet that slowly-slowly approach is difficult to execute when Chelsea’s supporters have such high expectations and are so disappointed with him not starting every week. He has already scored four goals for them this season in all competitions.

Estevao was a substitute at Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. He had removed his training gear in the 88th minute – and there was a great deal of the clobber because he finds London such a cold climate, let alone Lancashire – when he was told to get dressed again. That was because he had watched the man he would have replaced in Pedro Neto help create Chelsea’s second goal.

A few fans took that as an affront. Actually, maybe it was a compliment in that Enzo Maresca figured the game was won and there was no need to risk Estevao against a bunch of frustrated Burnley players when Barcelona are their next opponents. The fact that Neto, whom Maresca favours as his right winger in the Premier League, played the full 90 makes you wonder if he will be the substitute this time in the Champions League.

Perhaps, it is Estevao’s turn. Chelsea’s supporters certainly hope so. He has scored in his last six starts for club and country, so it would not be the worst idea, and it would allow neutrals like United fans to see whether he can upstage Barcelona’s own teenage virtuoso in Yamal.