Chelsea wonderkid is 'like Lamine Yamal' - Ronaldo

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 6 Dec 2024 10:59 GMT
• 3 min read

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has insisted that future Chelsea superstar Estevao Willian is similar to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

Estevao, 17, will formally join Chelsea for an initial €34 million next summer after the Blues fought off competition from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to finalise a deal with Palmeiras earlier this year.

Despite his age, Estevao is expected to be handed an immediate role in Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, with Noni Madueke potentially set to lose his place in the starting XI as a result.

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Estevao has registered the most goal contributions (22) of any player in the Brazilian top flight this season and he netted a stunning free-kick during Palmeiras’ 2-1 win over Cruzeiro in his most recent appearance.

Following the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw, Brazil legend Ronaldo revealed his thoughts on Estevao in an interview with Ben Jacobs.

“He's a young player and very talented,” Ronaldo said. “He's kind of like Lamine Yamal. He will soon be a very big star in football. He's very promising, and at just 17.”

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What has Estevao Willian said about joining Chelsea?

Estevao won’t formally join Chelsea until next July, but he is already looking forward to linking up with his new team-mates.

“I want to make history and be the most successful Brazilian in the club’s history,” he said during a recent interview with Transfermarkt.

“I want to win titles and show my full potential, show everything I can do.”

Estevao is expected to meet Maresca in December, and the Brazilian admitted that moving to London was a factor behind his decision to join Chelsea.

“Everyone is talking to me about Big Ben,” he added. “I haven’t done much research yet, but I’ve already found out a few things about it on the internet.

“I’m excited to visit London. Everyone says it’s one of the best cities in the world, that it receives a lot of tourists and everyone praises it.

“That also influenced my decision to go to Chelsea. We’ll go there at the end of the year. They say it’s cold, but we’re prepared.”