![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2248556098.jpg\")
\n\t\tEstevao has hit the ground running in an exceptional start to his Chelsea career (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tEstevao has hit the ground running in an exceptional start to his Chelsea career (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Barcelona\u2019s hierarchy are reportedly kicking themselves over their \u2018historic mistake\u2019 to allow Estevao sign for Chelsea following the youngster\u2019s magnificent performance in the Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n Estevao has proven an instant hit at Stamford Bridge, stepping up in the absence of Cole Palmer<\/a> to establish himself as Enzo Maresca\u2019s most potent attacking weapon in an outstanding start to his Chelsea career.<\/p>\n The Blues reached an agreement with Palmeiras to sign Estevao in 2024 before sending the 18-year-old back to his boyhood team to continue his development last term \u2013 a decision which has proven a masterstroke.<\/p>\n Having shown glimpses of his extraordinary potential in the early stages of the campaign, Estevao has proceeded to go from strength to strength, scoring five goals in his last nine appearances for his new club.<\/p>\n The Brazilian has also been in scintillating form at international level, netting four times in his last four matches for his country to cement his spot in Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Chelsea every day\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s Football Newsletter. <\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your team in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.<\/p>\n The teenager managed to outshine Lamine Yamal at Stamford Bridge <\/a>on Tuesday night and his piece of solo brilliance to double Chelsea\u2019s lead further underlined just why he is so highly rated across the globe.<\/p>\n But while Chelsea fans can hardly believed the gem they have unearthed, the wonder strike just served as a reminder to Barcelona bosses of the talent they had let slip through their fingers.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t According to Spanish newspaper AS<\/a>, Barcelona came \u2018within a hair\u2019s breadth\u2019 of signing Estevao<\/a> and \u2018already regret\u2019 allowing the forward to escape their clutches when he was still at Palmeiras.<\/p>\n The report states that Barca scouts watched Estevao on numerous occasions in Brazil and the missed opportunity is now viewed as a \u2018historic mistake\u2019 at the Camp Nou. <\/p>\n The CIES Football Observatory claim Estevao could now be worth in excess of \u00a3104million. It comes 18 months after Chelsea signed the Brazil international from Palmeiras for an initial fee of just \u00a329m.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web After Estevao\u2019s midweek heroics, his agent, Andre Cury, revealed Barca had multiple chances to sign his young client \u2013 but had to pull out of a proposed deal due to their precarious financial situation.<\/p>\n \u2018In 2018 I started doing reports on\u00a0Estevao<\/a>,\u2019 Cury told Cadena SER.<\/p>\n \u2018In 2019, I took Eric Abidal (Barcelona\u2019s former sporting director) to\u00a0Brazil<\/a>\u00a0to watch one of his matches and you could already see when he was 11 years old that he was different and that he wanted to be a\u00a0Ballon d\u2019Or<\/a>\u00a0winner.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMetro at the Match: Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona\t\t\t<\/p>\n Metro’s Ben Fleming breaks down the action with the winners and losers from Stamford Bridge:<\/p>\n Neto impresses in new role<\/p>\n Given the start as the central striker with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap benched, Pedro Neto was a livewire up in attack. A lack of composure let him down at points, but deploying him centrally could be a great option to provide Estevao with more minutes from the start.<\/p>\n Estevao outshines Yamal<\/p>\n Only 18, but Estevao already looks like a man for the big occasion. A winner against Liverpool last month and now a sublime goal to virtually put this game to bed. The Brazilian easily won the battle of the teenage sensations.<\/p>\n Cucurella the cult hero<\/p>\n \t\t A faultless display from Cucurella at left-back. Provided plenty of support to Garnacho in the final third, and kept his fellow countryman Lamine Yamal quiet for virtually the entire 90 minutes. Revered by the fans who sang his name all night long.<\/p>\n Full Chelsea ratings: Sanchez 7, Gusto 6, Fofana 7, Chalobah 7, Cucurella 8.5, James 6, Caicedo 7, Estevao 9, Fernandez 6, Garnacho 6, Neto 7. Subs: Santos 7, Delap 6, Gittens N\/A, Acheampong N\/A, George N\/A.<\/p>\n Yamal kept quiet<\/p>\n \t\t Lost his battle up against Cucurella and struggled to have any real impact on the game. Not helped by his side going down to ten men, but a visit to London to forget for the supremely talented teen, who made way to jeers from all four sides of Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n Awful Araujo<\/p>\n The rank opposite of a captain’s display from Ronald Araujo. Picked up his first yellow for dissent and sent for an early bath before the half-time whistle for a clumsy challenge on Cucurella. Cost his team.<\/p>\n Full Barcelona ratings: Joan Garc\u00eda 5, Kounde 6, Cubarsi 5, Araujo 3, Balde 5; Eric Garc\u00eda 5, De Jong 6, Fermin 6, Yamal 5, Lewandowski 5, Ferran Torres 5. Subs: Rashford 5, Raphinha 5, Christensen 5, Martin N\/A, Olmo N\/A.<\/p>\n Cury added: \u2018I\u2019ve always talked about him and now what I said is starting to come true.<\/p>\n \u2018I spoke with\u00a0Barcelona<\/a>\u00a0about Estevao in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. We went to their offices to offer the player because I believed he had a great future in world football.<\/p>\n \u2018However, Barca aren\u2019t in a good financial position and sometimes a deal can\u2019t be made. It\u2019s a shame.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Cury claims to have spoken directly with Barcelona sporting director Deco on several occasions, but the \u2018atmosphere\u2019 was never right for the club to sign Estevao.<\/p>\n \u2018The technical staff always approved of Estevao\u2019s signing and we met with Deco more than once,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n \u2018But Deco is tied to the club and the club\u2019s finances don\u2019t allow for a signing for the future.<\/p>\n \u2018For example, with Vitor Roque, the club rushed into a mistake. A player can\u2019t be signed and then, after four months, no longer be useful.<\/p>\n \u2018With what happened to Vitor, the atmosphere wasn\u2019t right to sign Estevao.\u2019<\/p>\n According to Cury, Estevao has a \u2018special affection\u2019 for Barcelona and would be capable of playing alongside Yamal in the same team.<\/p>\n Chelsea and there are no plans regarding a move to the Camp Nou at this stage.<\/p>\n \u2018Think of the Neymar-Messi duo\u2026 it\u2019s better than just having Messi or just having Neymar,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \u2018Estevao has five years left on his contract and is enjoying himself at\u00a0Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018He has a special affection for Barca.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2248533054.jpg\")
\n\t\tBarcelona scouted Estevao extensively before Chelsea signed the Brazilian (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2248527340.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Brazilian has scored five goals in his last nine appearances for the Blues (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tMarc Cucurella won his battle with Yamal (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2247893971.jpg\")
\n\t\tLamine Yamal made way to jeers from the home fans (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2247947196.jpg\")
\n\t\tBarcelona \u2018already regret\u2019 their \u2018historic mistake\u2019 to let Chelsea sign Estevao (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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