Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has made a bold prediction about his teenage teammate Estevao Willian, claiming the Brazilian winger has the potential to emulate Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
Teenage Titans Set for Stamford Bridge Showdown
The stage is set for a thrilling Champions League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as Chelsea prepare to host Spanish champions Barcelona. This highly anticipated match is being framed as a battle between two of football's most exciting teenage talents: Barcelona's 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and Chelsea's 18-year-old wonderkid Estevao Willian.
Yamal arrives in London with a formidable reputation, having already contributed to 73 goals in 118 appearances for Barcelona and playing a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. Meanwhile, Estevao, who joined Chelsea last summer in a deal potentially worth £51 million, has quickly become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge despite manager Enzo Maresca carefully managing his starting opportunities.
Cucurella's Verdict on the Young Stars
As one of the few players who shares a dressing room with both wingers, having represented Spain alongside Yamal and playing with Estevao at Chelsea, Cucurella offered unique insight during the pre-match press conference.
"They are both very special players," the left-back stated. "They have a lot of talent, they always want the ball, they always try to do the one-v-ones. These players can decide the games."
Cucurella acknowledged the current gap in experience but expressed confidence in his Chelsea teammate's development. "The only difference at the moment is that Lamine has played in Europe for a few seasons and Estevao arrived this season. But he's doing really well and if he continues improving he can arrive at Lamine's level."
The Spaniard also highlighted their shared mentality, noting: "They are both very funny, they enjoy the ball, they always have a smile on their face. If they are happy they can perform at the top level."
Maresca's Message and Team News
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca also praised Estevao but urged the young Brazilian to focus on his own development rather than comparisons with Yamal.
"Estevao is already playing high level, he is already starting for Brazil," the Italian manager confirmed. "For sure he is very young, for sure he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him."
Maresca emphasised the importance of enjoyment for his young star: "For me, the most important thing for Estevao is that he has to enjoy football, he has to be happy. He has not to think about being better than this player or the other player, he has just to be better than himself day-by-day."
Estevao is expected to start against Barcelona after being rested during Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Burnley on the weekend, a result that moved the Blues up to second place in the Premier League table.
As the football world eagerly anticipates this clash of generational talents, Cucurella's inside perspective adds an intriguing layer to what promises to be a memorable European night at Stamford Bridge.
