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  "path": "/2026/03/03/estevao-explains-rejected-manchester-united-transfer-join-chelsea-27208277/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-03T18:56:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
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    "Chelsea FC",
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    "Estêvão Willian",
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    "Estevao Willian",
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    "agreed to sign Estevao in 2024",
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  "textContent": "Estevao Willian joined Chelsea last summer (Picture: Getty)\n\nEstevao Willian has explained why he rejected a host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United before agreeing to join Chelsea.\n\nChelsea agreed to sign Estevao in 2024 but the Brazilian teenage sensation only moved to Stamford Bridge last summer.\n\nEstevao had made 83 appearances for boyhood club Palmeiras, scoring 27 goals, and was already been compared to Brazil legend Neymar.\n\nChelsea paid Palmeiras an initial £29m but add-ons could take the overall value of the deal above £50m.\n\nEstevao was not short of options when it became apparent he would be leaving Palmeiras and, according to The Sun, his representatives met several Premier League clubs to discuss a move.\n\nIt is claimed Manchester United, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest all expressed interest in a deal but missed out as the Brazil international chose to join Chelsea.\n\n‘My family went to other clubs but what caught my attention was Chelsea,’ Estevao told The Sun.\n\n##  Your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nEstevao joined Chelsea from Palmeiras last summer (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘The project with Chelsea was different because it’s a team that, how can I say, It gives you more opportunities to be in the game.\n\n‘I thought Chelsea would be the perfect future for me because it would get me more minutes.\n\n‘I want to be amongst the best players in the world. I know my potential and what I can offer to Chelsea and of course to be amongst the best players in the world.’\n\n> https://www.instagram.com/p/DM–U5cs1Tg/?hl=en\n\nEstevao has enjoyed a bright start to his Chelsea career, scoring seven goals and making two assists since arriving at Stamford Bridge.\n\nHis most recent came in Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Hull City but Estevao has missed Chelsea’s two games since then through injury.\n\nThe 18-year-old is also expected to miss Wednesday’s Premier League clash against top-four rivals Aston Villa, although Liam Rosenior has suggested his return will not be too far away.\n\n> @metrosportuk\n>\n> Chelsea have MORE red cards than home league wins 🫣 After Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1, we talked about the Blues’ shocking discipline this season — they’ve now received nine red cards, including one for their former manager. Arsenal, meanwhile, have equalled the Premier League record for the most goals scored from corners in a single campaign. #ARSENAL #premierleague #arsenalvschelsea #wwe #chelsea\n>\n> ♬ original sound – Metro Sport – Metro Sport\n\nDeflating draws with Leeds United and Burnley and Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal has left Chelsea sixth in the table, six points outside the top-four places.\n\nChris Sutton expects Chelsea’s winless run to extend to four games when they visit Villa Park in midweek.\n\n‘Aston Villa are on a terrible run and are going to fall out of the top four at this rate,’ the former Premier League striker told BBC Sport.\n\n‘Chelsea are not exactly flying at the moment either, but their biggest problem is that they can’t keep 11 players on the pitch – they probably would have got something against Arsenal on Sunday if not for Pedro Neto’s silly red card.\n\n‘It’s hard to back either team to get the win, so I am going to sit on the fence here and go with a 1-1 draw.’\n\nAston Villa looked on course for an impressive third-place finish earlier in the season but Unai Emery’s side have won just one of their last five games to slip below in-form Manchester United.\n\nOllie Watkins scored two second-half goals as Villa came from behind to beat Chelsea in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge back in December.\n\n**For more stories like this,check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook, **Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Estevao explains why he rejected Manchester United transfer to join Chelsea"
}