Romano reveals Chelsea's Lamine Yamal transfer secret

Robin Bairner

• 25 Sep 2024 05:30 CDT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has revealed a secret about Lamine Yamal that might just have transformed the future for Chelsea.

Romano says that the Barcelona teen, who has taken the football world by storm over the course of the last 18 months, emerging as the world’s most valuable teenager according to FootballTransfers’ unique algorithm, has inadvertently sent Estevao Willian to Chelsea.

The football transfer news reporter has revealed that Barcelona were among the clubs interested in the promising youngster but pulled out of the running for the young Brazilian when it became apparent just how good Lamine Yamal was going to become.

STATS

Estêvão Willian Almeida de Oliveira Gonçalves

M (CR)

Palmeiras

Estêvão Willian Almeida de Oliveira Gonçalves

M (CR)

Palmeiras

All Tournaments

2024

• 34

  Games

• 15

  Goals

• 10

  Assists

View all stats

Romano writes for the Daily Briefing: “Chelsea were one of several clubs interested in Estevao, but in reality all of the top European clubs were very attentive to his situation.

“He was on Barcelona’s list for example, and they wanted him before Lamine Yamal started to show what an exceptional talent he is.

“For sure Chelsea believe they’ve signed a top player for the present and future, and one who they believe can play as right winger but also as a number 10.”

The one doubt over Estevao Willian

Chelsea did indeed manage to capture Estevao for an initial fee of €34 million, yet there are already concerns over whether the young Brazilian can transfer his sensational form for Palmeiras to the Premier League side.

It is not the quality of the 17-year-old talent, however, that is under question.

There are increasing worries over the physical state of the teenager, who has suffered three injuries in the space of three months, with the latest of these coming against Criciuma last weekend.

When on the field, Estevao Willian has shone, with 15 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in 2024, but Chelsea may be obliged to manage his minutes when he eventually arrives at the club in the summer of 2025 after he has turned 18.