Enzo Maresca Plots Chelsea’s Major Frustration with Estêvão
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s manager, is navigating the expectations surrounding young talent Estêvão. The Brazilian wonderkid, just 18 years old, joined Chelsea this summer from Palmeiras for an initial fee of £29 million. Fans are eager to see more of him on the pitch, driven by high praise that compares him to Vinícius Júnior, one of Brazil’s top talents. However, Maresca’s strategy for Estêvão requires patience.
Estêvão’s Role at Chelsea
Since his arrival, Estêvão has played in four out of seven league matches. He notably scored a dramatic equalizer in a 2-1 win against Liverpool, highlighting his potential. Despite this, Maresca has chosen to limit his starting opportunities, including a recent match against Nottingham Forest. Here, Estêvão was substituted in for just 12 minutes during a 3-0 victory.
Managing Young Talent
The young player’s development is a priority for Maresca, who recognizes the challenges faced by players in their teens. Estêvão’s limited playing time is seen as a protective measure to help him adapt at a comfortable pace.
- Estêvão’s current age: 18 years
- Transfer fee from Palmeiras: £29 million
- Matches played: 4 out of 7 league games
- Notable goal: Equalizer against Liverpool
- Playing time in recent match: 12 minutes
As Estêvão recovers from international duty, Maresca reassured fans that he is being carefully managed. The manager emphasized the youth player’s future importance, expressing confidence in his eventual transition to a starting role.
Future Prospects
Estêvão is aware that his time will come as he continues to mature within the club. Similar cases include Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, who also needed time to adjust before becoming key players. Chelsea’s supporters are advised to remain patient as the team navigates this phase of Estêvão’s development.
