Chelsea star urged to leave after Xabi Alonso snub

Estevao Willian has been urged to leave Chelsea after failing to break into Xabi Alonso’s first-team this season.

Estevao, 19, enjoyed a promising first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.

Chelsea beat a host of rival clubs to the signing of Estevao in 2025, agreeing a deal worth over £50m with Brazilian side Palmeiras.

Estevao is regarded as one of the best young players in the world and has already earned 14 caps for Brazil, scoring six goals for his country.

The teenage sensation was expected to kick on this season but has found first-team minutes hard to come by and is yet to start a game in the Premier League.

Estevao was an unused substitute in Saturday’s win over Everton and is said to be growing frustrated with his situation in west London.

Reports suggest Estevao could look to force through a move away from Chelsea in January and former Blues winger Scott Sinclair believes that outcome could be in the best interest of all parties.

‘As a young player, all you want to do is play football,’ Sinclair told Andy’s Bet Club. ‘In my experience, having been on loan six times during my spell at Chelsea, you just want to be playing for your parent club.

‘But when you aren’t, you have to go out on loan to gain experience and game time.

‘The longer you go without playing, the less match-fit you become, which makes it even harder to get into the side when an opportunity arises and that leads to doubt.

‘Only Estevao can decide what is best for him, but because he is so young, getting consistent game time is essential and having been in the same position, I’d say he should go and play.’

Chelsea hero Pat Nevin can also envisage a scenario in which Estevao agitates for a move away from Stamford Bridge.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ he told GOAL. ‘Now it’s not exactly “you should leave, go now”.

‘But your career only lasts a certain amount of time and you need a lot of games under your belt. And by the time you’re 20, 21, you kind of want a couple of hundred.

‘If you’re really top level, that’s who you are. You’re not getting bits of games here and there, you are an established player. And the real great players tend to have that.

‘Started very early, which he did, have great talent, which he has, and then play a lot of games and understand the importance of life within a game. And it’s a bit of a shame because it’s not happening.

‘So I wouldn’t be shocked if he looks elsewhere to get a game. On the other hand, if you’re Chelsea, you think, “what happens if Rogers or Palmer get injured? We need somebody.”

‘And it’s the classic difficult situation that players in the modern game find themselves in. But a player of that talent, don’t waste it on benches all your life. I get a feeling he won’t.’

Alonso has attempted to play down the growing speculation over Estevao’s future at Chelsea, insisting he will ‘have his moments and more minutes’.

Chelsea suffered a wobble before the international break but thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 last weekend before Saturday’s win at Everton.

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