Andrey Santos claims new £48m Chelsea signing is ‘face of Brazilian football’

Andrey Santos believes new Chelsea signing Estevao Willian has “huge potential” and is “the face of Brazilian football” after striking a deal to sign the teenager.

The Blues have agreed to sign the 17-year-old from Palmeiras, forking out €34 million (£28.7m) up front plus a further €23m (£19.4m) in add-ons. Estevao will make the move to Stamford Bridge when he is 18 next year and will arrive alongside Ecuador international Kendry Paez, whose £17.5m deal was agreed last year.

Despite only making his professional debut back in December, Estevao has become a shining light of the Palmeiras side in recent months, scoring three goals and adding two assists in 11 Serie A appearances this season. But now, following interest from the Blues, Estevao is set for a big-money move across to Europe.

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And Santos, who made his own move to Chelsea from Vasco de Gama last year, has revealed he has already spoken to their new recruit.

“I spoke to Estevao, if I’m not mistaken, it was when he went to play in Colombia, I had played there the month before and he sent me a message saying, ‘man, I really admire you, how you managed to make a difference here in this climate at this altitude’, and I said, ‘man, it’s difficult but you’re going to make it’,” Santos said on the Fora do Jogo podcast.

“Estevao is a kid, I’m a fan of his. He has huge, huge, huge potential. I always spoke about him with my father, I knew he would quickly become a professional because of his quality. I see that he is a focused boy, he has a lot of personality, I think attackers have to have the personality, he is the face of Brazilian football.”

Meanwhile, Brazil legend Neymar has also waxed lyrical about Estevao. Speaking to ESPN at an event held at the Hollywood Paladium, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward said: “He is a great talent that is emerging today in Brazilian football. I think he’s going to be a genius.”