Chelsea’s Estevao: ‘Don’t Call Me Little Messi, Neymar Is My Idol’
Chelsea's new Brazilian teenager, Estevao Willian, has revealed that his football idol is Neymar and that he never liked his childhood nickname, "Messinho" (Little Messi). The 17-year-old, who recently scored his first goal for Chelsea, explained that he and his family saw the comparison to Lionel Messi as an unwanted burden. "Sometimes a nickname like that becomes a pressure that's not yours," he said in an interview. In contrast, his admiration for Neymar runs deep. He recalled that as a child, he only knew about the Nike brand because of Neymar and was "over the moon" to later sign with the same company. Showing foresight, Estevao began learning English 18 months before his move to Chelsea, knowing it was a skill he would need for his future career. He aims to settle quickly and prove himself in the Premier League.