Enzo Maresca may start Estevao Willian’s Chelsea career in position that isn’t his preference

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Estevao Willian is set to be a phenomenal young talent under Enzo Maresca, and sources can confirm to TBR Football the position Enzo Maresca intends to deploy him at Chelsea.

Estevao joined Chelsea in June of 2024, but the Brazilian would officially join the club in the summer of 2025, after turning 18 and completing the FIFA Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.

Estevao scored against Chelsea when they faced each other in the competition, adding to the excitement about the 18-year-old.

But with so many players at Chelsea, where does he fit in at Stamford Bridge?

Exclusive: Enzo Maresca will play Estevao Willian as a right-winger

TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey, says that he will likely be utilised as a right-winger in Maresca’s system to begin with, despite Estevao’s positional preference being the number ten role.

Bailey states: “Well, yeah – Estevao, I’m told… they haven’t really decided yet on where he’s going to play. The initial expectation was that he’d start out on the right, as that’s where he’s played quite a bit at Palmeiras. But I know the player himself wants to play more centrally.

“I think we’ll see a mixture, but predominantly he’ll be used on the right – at least to begin with, based on what I’ve heard. It’ll really depend on how he adapts.

“He’s a fabulous talent, obviously, and there is room for him on the right, even though Chelsea are still looking to bring others in.

“So, from what I’m told, expect him to feature mostly on the right for now. Long term, though, he’s keen to play centrally – we’ll see how that plays out.”

When will Estevao Willian begin training with the Chelsea squad?

Chelsea’s squad from the Club World Cup is set to return to training on Monday, 4 August, according to journalist Bobby Vincent via X.

Joining them at Cobham will be Estevao, who is expected to begin training with the first team for the first time.

That can’t come soon enough – given Estevao’s undeniable potential.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder, Branco, believes Estevao is the greatest player he’s seen born in Brazil since Neymar.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had these kids there and Brazil has a spectacular generation,” Branco told Canal WAMO.

“Brazil for 2026 will arrive very strong, they’ll arrive with strength, speed and quality.

“Estevao, for me, with all due respect to the others, this is something serious, something that I’ve never said and I’m going to say – since Neymar, he is the greatest player I’ve seen born in Brazil.

“This is my opinion, you’ve seen him close, you know. This is Brazil, they’re all spectacular but this boy, his ceiling is a bit higher.”