Former Arsenal icon Julio Baptista has conveyed his congratulations to Chelsea on the signing of Estevao Willian. The young player underwent a thorough medical examination earlier this week and is now on the brink of being officially unveiled as a Chelsea player in a deal initially valued at £29.5 million.
Referred to as the ‘Little Messi’, the Palmeiras forward will break a new record as the most expensive transfer involving a South American teenager in history if Chelsea ends up paying the full £51 million fee.
Todd Boehly and other influential Chelsea decision-makers have placed considerable emphasis on their transfer strategy by focusing on young talents from South America. While signings of Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, Angelo, and Kendry Paez have already been confirmed, Baptista is confident that Willian will prove to be the standout acquisition.
“Estevao Willian is an exceptional talent emerging from Brazil, but I believe the comparisons to Lionel Messi are rather unfavorable,” he expressed. “The talent pool in Brazil is truly exceptional, but the weight of expectations can be daunting for these young players. Nonetheless, he has the potential to develop into an outstanding player and is a significant addition to Chelsea.”
Willian will not be participating in this summer’s Copa America due to scheduling constraints, while his soon-to-be former Palmeiras teammate Ednrick, who has already signed with Real Madrid, aims to make a significant impact.
“If Ednrick is chosen to play, he could potentially excel at the Copa America, although I believe Vinicius Junior will have a more substantial influence on the Brazilian squad,” Baptista added. “Rodrygo is another player to keep an eye on, but I think Vinicius needs to showcase more for the national team. Hopefully, he will realize his full potential and talent soon.
“Ednrick has a highly promising future, but it is crucial to be patient with him given the immense pressure and expectations surrounding his early achievements. Real Madrid must demonstrate patience with him, similar to their approach with Vinicius Junior. Brazil is witnessing an influx of exceptional talent, leading to inevitable comparisons.
“He has the potential to develop into an outstanding player and follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo, yet he must carve out his own path. Nonetheless, his addition to Real Madrid is truly remarkable as he already proves to be an exceptional player.”
