Chelsea set for awkward £51m transfer conversation that Enzo Maresca has ignored

Enzo Maresca admitted earlier this month that he wasn't thinking about Estevao Willian and how the new Chelsea winger would be used after the Club World Cup. If all goes to plan, Maresca will be forced to turn his attention to the teenager sooner than expected.

After beating ES Tunis 3-0 in the final group game on Wednesday morning, Chelsea secured a place in the last-16 and set up a game with Benfica for the chance to get into the quarter-finals. Compared to what Chelsea could easily have been facing, their new route to the semi-finals is generous.

Benfica are first with a match in Charlotte on Saturday.If Chelsea are victorious there, they will play one of Botafogo or Palmeiras.That sets up a potential meeting with Estevao.

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The 18-year-old has picked up in America where he left off in Brazil. Despite his output dropping off from a remarkable 2024, Estevao still managed three assists in his final seven Serie A matches and went on to win Superior Player of the Match in the first two Club World Cup group stage games as well.

He has been open about what lies ahead with a move to England on the closing horizon. “Going to Chelsea is a dream coming true, but knowing that I need to focus here first, it’s not easy," he said earlier this week. "The closer it gets the anxiety starts to hit, the butterflies in the stomach start to hit.”

Maresca has tried to play things down with so much attention and hype around the attacker who has already been anointed as Neymar's heir. "Now, if Estevao is doing well, we are happy," the Chelsea head coach said pre-tournament. "But in this moment he's doing well for another team. Hopefully he can do well for us when he joins.”

Should Chelsea and Palmeiras progress, which is far from assured,then it would certainly pose for a strange situation where someone Chelsea own is playing against them. Palmeiras were keen to have Estevao as part of their squad for the Club World Cup even though it was an ideal situation for Chelsea to integrate him into their own setup.

Without a full pre-season, the Club World Cup is something between an end-of-season tournament backing onto 2024/25 and an early pre-season for 2025/26. Chelsea have since confirmed two friendly matches at Stamford Bridge over the weekend before the Premier League season begins in August, but there will be an awkward period between the end of the Club World Cup and then.

Players are entitled to three weeks of rest without interruption and whereas most teams are currently undergoing their holidays now, Chelsea are still playing and will have to offer recovery time after the Club World Cup. That promises to eat into their preparations for the new season, backing right onto the start of the friendly weekend, depending on how far Chelsea get in the Club World Cup.

This will all impact Estevao and when he gets a first chance to impress in training.For now his mind will be set on beating Botafogo, who have already overcome Paris Saint-Germain.

Not only would that partially avenge for Palmeiras losing out on the title to their rivals last year but it would create the possible showdown opportunity against Chelsea. Palmeiras beat Porto 2-0 in their first game and have been similarly exciting.

Flamengo, who beat Chelsea, currently top Serie A in Brazil and have also flexed their muscles under Felipe Luis. With a £51million price tag to live up to, Estevao will be aiming to get in the headlines yet again over the coming weeks.

For now, Chelsea have their sights set on Benfica, who will not be taken lightly after winning against Bayern, after all. Should Palmeiras do their job as well then the Chelsea - Estevao story might start prematurely.

It raises the prospect of a strange battle between two opposing parties who have the future together. In the moment, there would be a fierce competitive spirit, but with the knowledge that soon enough their goals will be aligned.

Maresca, as always, is only taking one step at a time. "We know Benfica is a top club, with a top manager, and top players," he said on Wednesday after the Tunis clash. "It’s going to be tough, but from 32 we are now into the Round of 16. And our next target is go into the quarter-finals."