Enzo Maresca has compared Estevao’s development to Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer.
Maresca worked with Palmer when he was manager of Manchester City’s under-23 side and said the midfielder’s development from a winger to a No10 is similar to the pathway he has envisaged for Estevao.
Estevao, who arrived from Palmeiras in the summer, has shown glimpses of the player Chelsea brought for an initial £29million fee, but the teenager has also had to be patient for minutes as he adapts to the physicality of English football.
The 18-year-old has started four of Chelsea’s opening nine games in all competitions, and Maresca says that he could see Estevao, who typically plays on the right wing, playing through the middle.
“We consider all our players to give them minutes and all positions,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Blues’ Premier League encounter with Liverpool.
“But also, I think Estevao reminded me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the U23s at City, and when he was with us in the first team.
“I think Cole's path has been similar to Estevao's path in terms of starting wide as a winger. And then slowly, slowly you can move inside.”
Estevao has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite with a number of bright performances this season.
However, with competition for places out wide, he has been rotated in and out of the side.
Palmer’s groin injury, with Maresca reluctant to put a timeframe on his return, means an opportunity could open up for Estevao as the creative fulcrum of Chelsea’s attack.
Maresca believes Estevao could play through the middle but admitted the youngster would have to bulk up, similarly to how Palmer has during his three seasons at Chelsea.
“The Premier League is completely different compared to other countries in the world. If you want to play in the middle, you need to be physically prepared,” the Italian said.
“I think Cole now is like that. In the past, he needed to develop that. I see Estevao exactly in the same way.”
