Estevao’s youth coach says he has all the talent to become a ‘superstar’ | OneFootball

Estevao’s former youth coach at Palmeiras, Lucas Andrade, says that he has the talent to become a superstar.

The winger has enjoyed a rapid rise to success in European football, but few know him better than his youth coach at Palmeiras.

Estevao joined the Palmeiras youth system in May 2021, and initially played for the U15 and U17 squads, but quickly made the jump to U20 level.

The 18-year-old started playing for the U20’s in early 2023. Andrade was the head coach of the U20’s then, and still is now. He oversaw a golden generation of talents including Estevao, Endrick and Vitor Reis.

Andrade spoke about his pride at having managed those players: “I’m so proud to have helped the development of players like Estevao, Endrick and Vitor Reis.

“Our academy at Palmeiras is so strong and there are definitely more great talents who are coming up through the ranks. It takes time to build players and you need to give them to freedom to fulfil their potential and hopefully reach the top level.”

Estevao now plays for Chelsea, Endrick for Real Madrid – though he is on loan at Lyon, and Vitor Reis for Manchester City – he is on loan at Girona.

Estevao has, though, perhaps always been a level above his peers, even in such esteemed company. “My first impressions of Estevao were that from the beginning you could just tell he was different. He was so focused, so talented and he wasn’t afraid to showcase his skills from day one,” said Andrade.

Evidence of this is that Estevao has slotted straight in at Chelsea, and is already one of their best and most important players, whilst Endrick and Reis are still very much finding their feet in European football before they return to the giant clubs that bought them.

Brazil will be involved in the World Cup this summer, and though much of the debate is around the old guard – particularly all-time top-scorer Neymar – and whether he will even make the squad, Andrade is excited about Estevao’s potential to light up the tournament.

“Brazilian people love players like Estevao. Creative with both feet, gets you out of your seat and is so fun to watch. Seeing him in the national team makes everyone in this country really excited for the next World Cup.

“I truly believe that Estevao can become a superstar. He’s still very young and already he’s able to decide big matches for club and country.

“He makes things happen every time he touches the ball and these attributes are so important in the development of a superstar.”

This World Cup will likely signal the end of the illustrious careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The new generation of superstars, led by the likes of Lamine Yamal and Estevao, are already facing comparisons to those greats that came before them, but Andrade believes it is far too early for that.

“I think it is still too early to compare him with players like Messi and Ronaldo,” he said. “But he definitely has the talent and the mindset to raise his level and to reach the very top of club and international football.”

Estevao could hardly have enjoyed a better debut season in English football. He has a combined four goals and assists in 10 Premier League starts, including a last-minute home winner against Liverpool, and he scored a brilliant goal in the Champions league against Barcelona in a 3-0 win.

Still only 18, it remains to be seen what he can achieve in football, but all of the early signs signal a career at the very top of the sport.