Brazil’s fixtures during this international break will take place in Australia and India, but Estevao may welcome the long journey. At least with his country, the teenager has a realistic chance of playing more minutes than he has managed for Chelsea this season.
The 19-year-old has played just 23 Premier League minutes under Xabi Alonso, with stoppage time excluded from that total.
Across Chelsea’s five league matches, his involvement has consisted of an 83rd-minute appearance from the bench, one game as an unused substitute, an 81st-minute introduction, an 86th-minute cameo and an 87th-minute arrival with Chelsea already two goals behind Brentford.
That limited involvement has prompted speculation in Brazil that Estevao is becoming frustrated, a reaction that would be understandable. Reports have even suggested he could be weighing up his future at Stamford Bridge, although there would be plenty of clubs interested in the forward. Chelsea, however, continue to maintain that he is central to their long-term plans.
People close to the player have dismissed suggestions that he is disillusioned, telling Daily Mail Sport that the season remains lengthy and that there is confidence he will receive a fair opportunity to prove himself.
There is nevertheless surprise among others at how difficult it has been for Estevao to build momentum under Alonso. One source in Brazil offered a blunt assessment: ‘Xabi appears not to love him.’
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has given Estevao just 23 minutes of Premier League action so far this season
Reports in Brazil have suggested that Estevao is considering his future at Chelsea, where the 19-year-old would attract no shortage of suitors
Speaking while on international duty with Brazil this week, Estevao appeared to accept the challenge of competing for a place. ‘We have quality players at Chelsea, so what I do is focus on what I can control,’ he said. ‘I try to give my best in training. When I get an opportunity, I try to give my best. It goes day after day.’
Estevao has only recently returned from the hamstring tear he suffered in April, an injury that ended his previous season early and destroyed his hopes of featuring at the World Cup. It was a significant setback for the teenager.
His prospects of establishing a run in the Chelsea side have also been complicated by Cole Palmer and new arrival Morgan Rogers joining Joao Pedro in a potent attacking trio. Pedro Neto has impressed in the right wing-back role within Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system, another position where Estevao could be asked to contribute.
At Arsenal, Estevao came close to rescuing a point when he entered with Chelsea trailing 2-1, only for David Raya to produce an outstanding save to deny his late effort.
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That performance earned him a start in the Carabao Cup against Leeds several days later. He found it difficult to make an impact, however, and was substituted at half-time along with three team-mates as Chelsea recovered from a 1-0 deficit to win 6-3.
With Chelsea not competing in Europe, cup matches are particularly important for Estevao if he is to force his way into more Premier League action. He is not the only wide player facing that challenge, with several others also struggling to secure opportunities under Alonso.
Jamie Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for £52million in 2025, has been an unused substitute in each of Chelsea’s five Premier League matches this season. Like Estevao, he started against Leeds in the Carabao Cup and was withdrawn at half-time.
Roma showed interest in Gittens during the summer, but Chelsea insisted that he was not available because he formed an important part of their plans. So far, there has been little on-field evidence to support that claim.
Estevao’s opportunities have been reduced by Morgan Rogers’ arrival and his partnership with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer in a formidable Chelsea attack
The international break gives Estevao, who missed the World Cup because of injury, a chance to push for more opportunities when he returns to Chelsea
Geovany Quenda, who joined from Sporting for £44m this summer, has also seen little action. He has not started a match in any competition and has made only two substitute appearances.
Once injured players such as Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Marco Palestra return to contention, some of Chelsea’s wide options could find themselves left out of Alonso’s match-day squad altogether.
They would then risk falling out of sight and out of mind, much like Emmanuel Emegha and Aaron Anselmino, both of whom have only made one matchday squad all season, each acting as unused substitutes in the Carabao Cup against Luton Town. Anselmino was missing when the Chelsea squad posed for their picture, released last week.
Yet Estevao has attracted more attention than most because his potential is so obvious. Signed for a total package worth £51m from Brazilian club Palmeiras on a pre-agreement for when he turned 18, he showed his worth at times in Enzo Maresca’s 4-2-3-1.
Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 is leaving little room for his inclusion, but this international break could be good for him, as a way to try to take the opportunities that Carlo Ancelotti will allow him.