Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has backed Chelsea’s Estevao to become one of the best players in the world.
The 18-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young prospects in South America and Chelsea had to fend off competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United to sign the Brazilian midfielder last year.
Estevao finally made £29 million move from Palmeiras to Chelsea in the summer and has made an immediate impact in the Premier League.
The midfielder is also making a strong case to secure a place in Brazil’s squad for their World Cup campaign next summer after scoring twice in their 5-0 friendly win against South Korea on Friday.
‘I believe he’s going to be a very top player, he’s got the talent,’ Silva told perform.
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‘I have known him since he was a very little kid back in Belo Horizonte, with Cruzeiro. Later on, he moved to Palmeiras and he stepped up so fast with his game, developing his skills, his ability, his strength.
‘I believe now he is going to get more mature. The maturity of moving to a different country will be so important for him to change experience. A different league, experiencing a different type of competition, a high-level competition, in Europe, against the best players in the world, will be important for his maturity and improvement.
‘I’m sure he’s going to be a top, top player. Not only for Chelsea, but in the world.’
Asked if Estevao has the potential to reach Lionel Messi’s level, Silva replied: ‘It’s too early to say that and put this pressure on him.
‘I like for him to develop because he’s such a nice boy, very humble. To be compared like this, I don’t want to compare.
‘He has the ability to become a good version of Estevao. To achieve things with Chelsea and to help them be at the top as much as he can.’
Silva, who won the Premier League with Arsenal in 2004 and was part of Brazil’s World Cup-winning side in 2002, also believes that Estevao will remain grounded at Chelsea due to his ‘good family foundation’.
‘He was signed by the club and eventually, very early days, Nike made a contract with him. If some of those brands come to a player at such a young age, you know there is something special. Not only the club that have seen them, but also somebody else with a good scouting programme are doing a job as well,’ Silva said.
‘He was above everyone in Belo Horizonte. The people called him ‘Messinho’, which was the comparison to Messi. But I don’t want to compare him.
‘I want him to be Estevao, inspired by Messi and the bigger players, the players he looked up to, to have a great career. Because he has the potential and the ability to do that.
‘Another important aspect, he’s got a good family foundation which is so important for him. It will keep his mindset right and not get lost in this world that can be a trap if you sometimes forget to do what you have to.’
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