Will Chelsea’s own ‘Little Messi’ end their Club World Cup hopes?

Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian will either be playing his final match for his boyhood team on Friday, or knocking his future employers Chelsea out of the Club World Cup.

The 18-year-old’s date with destiny comes after Chelsea signed the latest Brazilian sensation for an initial £29.1m, with £19.7m due in add-ons, last summer – before allowing him to stay with his current club for another year.

And, after beating competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Blues also agreed for Estevao to play for the Sao Paolo outfit in the Club World Cup before joining Chelsea.

That left open a possibility, however remote, that Chelsea could face Estevao before he joins – it will now happen at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as the sides meet in the quarter-finals.

“I hope he gives his best for the owners of Chelsea to see all the potential and quality he has,” said Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira, whose side won the Copa Libertadores in 2021 to qualify for the tournament.

“It will be an opportunity for him to show how good he is. We expect his best, to show his maximum, attack, defend and say goodbye to our fans.

“We helped him to grow as a man and professional. It could be a good moment to give him a goodbye in an amazing game.”

Chelsea manager Maresca, however, didn’t want to be drawn into too much comment, saying while he has met the player’s family, he is yet to talk with Estevao.

“We can talk about the future when this competition is finished,” added Maresca.

“In this moment he is a Palmeiras player and we are here to play the game against Palmeiras, not Estevao and hopefully we can win.”

As the United States celebrates Independence Day on 4 July, Estevao will be out to show his skills to a new audience of Chelsea supporters in what is expected to be a packed stadium of almost 70,000 for the 21:00 (02:00 BST Saturday) kick-off.

“We, him and the club – everyone knew this could happen during the negotiations,” added Ferreira.

“He will show his commitment with us. But once he does that he is free to start with a new club.

“I only want, while Estevao is with us, that he gives his best. He doesn’t need to worry about anything because the agreements are all set. He just needs to focus on playing well for Palmeiras and helping us because those clauses are already signed.”

Estevao did not speak to the media before the match as Palmeiras looked to calm the noise around a young player increasingly in the spotlight for one of the Brazilian club’s biggest matches in recent years.

But striker Jose Manuel Lopez said about his young team-mate: “Estevao is from a good family and a very respectful kid.

“He has won several titles with us, become important for our team, and also helped us win our last trophies. Everyone knows what he can give on the field.”

Midfielder Mauricio added: “Estevao is a great player and a great friend. We always make jokes during training and there is a relaxation. I think this makes the atmosphere lighter.

“He is only 18, but he is mature and focused here to help us to play.”

Last season, Estevao became the first player under the age of 18 to achieve 20 goal involvements in a single season in Brazil’s Serie A, breaking a record set by Neymar, by scoring 12 times and adding eight assists.

The new season in South America restarted in February and Estevao has registered 11 goals and five assists in 36 matches in all competitions.

In the Club World Cup, he has won Superior Player of the Match twice and, perhaps fittingly, impressed against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, having earned the nickname Messinho – ‘Little Messi’ – in Brazil.

Senior officials have privately expressed excitement about Estevao’s performances. Meanwhile, a prominent source working with Brazilian players told BBC Sport that Estevao is widely regarded as a bigger talent than even Real Madrid’s teenage forward Endrick or Manchester City defender Vitor Reis.

However, there is also an acceptance that he will need to be eased in initially while adapting to English football.

Estevao will join a star-studded attack at Stamford Bridge, featuring Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, as well as new signings Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.

In fact, Joao Pedro has become the 18th forward to sign for Chelsea in just over three years under their current owners.

Chelsea supporters will be excited to see their new £55m signing after his move from Brighton – the 23-year-old he striker was registered before the 3 July deadline and has been training with his new squad at Barry University in Miami.

It means Joao Pedro is expected to at least be on the bench for the quarter-final. “We are happy with Joao and will see if we we’re going to give him some minutes,” said Maresca.

Once Gittens joins the club after the tournament after agreeing a move from Borussia Dortmund, the Blues will have 17 forward players on their books

His arrival to play as either a right winger or number 10 is expected to put Madueke’s position most under threat in the longer term, but no player is being forced out initially to facilitate his arrival.

Meanwhile, midfielder Romeo Lavia is a doubt for the match because of “muscular problems” and Moises Caicedo is suspended.