Brazilian teenage forward Estevao will join up with Chelsea this summer after the Blues agreed a £51m deal with Palmeiras and the 18-year-old has revealed how a social media message from Neymar once moved him to tears
New Chelsea star Estevao had revealed how he was once almost moved to tears by a moving message from Brazilian star Neymar. The 18-year-old is set to join the Blues from Palmeiras this summer in a deal worth around £51million after emerging as one of the most talented forwards in world football.
Last season Estevao netted 15 times in 45 appearances for the Brazilian Serie A side in what was his breakthrough campaign.
And now he has revealed an emotional moment where he was messaged by his idol Neymar on social media, giving him some words of encouragement after he missed a penalty against Corinthians.
In open letter addressed to his parents on the Players’ Tribune, Estevao spoke of how Neymar sent him two direct messages, the first of which left him close to tears.
He wrote: “The very first time he messaged me, I nearly cried. My biggest reference in football knows about me.
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“And do you remember how sad I was when I missed the penalty against Corinthians? Dad, you usually give me a complete breakdown of my game, but that time there were no words. You looked at me, and you could tell that I was completely broken.
“I disappeared into my own little world, just me and my phone. I didn’t even want to look at the news. I opened Instagram, looking for something to cheer me up. A funny meme. A silly reel. Anything. Then I checked my DMs, and I saw it. Neymar Jr. Another DM from my football idol.
Estevao revealed how Neymar told him to keep his head up and reminded him that missing chances was part of the game – insisting that it was hard to put into words how much the message meant to him.
“He really didn’t have to do it,” he said. “But he knew how much pressure a 17-year-old can go through in Brazil, and how the fans and the media can kick you when you’re down. He told me to stay confident, and said that I’m going to miss many more penalties in my career. It’s part of the game. What matters is how you react. Mom, Dad, I’m not even sure you realise what that meant to me.
“When he said that I would be the next genius in Brazil, I felt like printing the words and hanging them on my wall. So to get to play with Neymar? I can only do my part.”
Neymar also congratulated Estevao after he broke his record for most goal contributions by an Under-17 player in the Brazilian top flight, after finishing the season with 13 goals and nine assists.
Estevao will link up with his new Chelsea colleagues after the revamped Club World Cup this summer and the Blues are said to view him as a “generational talent”.
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