When Chelsea signed Estevao, expectations were already set sky-high. But since then, the Brazilian supertalent has been showing that he might just have what it takes to match them. After scoring against the Blues in his final game for Palmeiras, he made his debut for his new club against Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly. And he seems to be everything the fans had been hoping for.
Estevao was electric in the first half against Bayer Leverkusen. Not only was his overall quality very high, which is the most important thing in pre-season, but he found the back of the net as well.
It came from a move that he started in the middle of the park. Cole Palmer tried to chip the ball over the goalkeeper and was marginally off, as he struck the post, but Estevao was there on the rebound to find the back of the net, scoring on his Chelsea debut in the process.
Naturally, the Brazilian youngster was delighted, even though the goal might have only come in a pre-season friendly. That has not stopped the Chelsea fans from getting excited about what we are about to see either.
'Genuinely incredible' - Chelsea fans react to Estevao's debut vs Bayer Leverkusen
One Chelsea fan wrote: "Estevao is genuinely incredible. He is going to be a massive problem. Massive massive problem."
Another added: "Estevao is a special one. Confirmed."
Some are getting excited about the Palmer-Estevao combination as well: "That Estevão-Palmer dynamic seemed fantastic on paper and there are already glimpses of ingenuity only minutes into the season."
Another said: "Estevão and Palmer swapped positions briefly. Pure cinema!"
Once again, it is important not to read too much into a pre-season performance. But considering how much hype surrounds Estevao, it is almost impossible not to.
The talent is there for all to see, it always has been. Now, it is about making the adjustment to the English game. It will be interesting to see how Estevao reacts when to the physicality of the Premier League and its fast-paced nature, which Enzo Fernandez admitted gave him troubles in the beginning.
It is not always going to be easy. That is expected. Let's not put too much pressure on the Brazilian youngster to deliver from the off. This is a season to learn for him. But if his development goes according to expectations, Chelsea have quite the player on their hands.