Estevao breaks Neymar goal record ahead of Chelsea visit

Palmeiras winger Estevao broke Neymar's record for goal contributions for an Under-17 player in Brazil's top flight with his dazzing display against Juventude.

In summer, Chelsea struck a £56m deal to bring Estevao to Stamford Bridge in 2025, with Blues fans watching closely as the 17-year-old continues to enjoy a sublime breakout season in the Brasileirao.

Estevao grabbed a goal and an assist in Palmeiras' 5-3 win over Juventude at the weekend, taking him to a total of 18 goal involvements in the 2024 season - ten goals and eight assists.

That return now eclipses the 16 goal involvements Neymar managed during the 2009 Serie A campaign, made up of ten goals and six assists.

Not only are Estevao's numbers sensational for a player of his age, but they are among the best managed in Brazil's top flight this season. He currently boasts at least two more assists than any other player in the division, while only Flamengo's Pedro (11) has scored more.

The domestic season still has eight rounds of matches left to play before coming to a close in December, at which point Estevao will head over to London to begin his adaptation process ahead of his planned summer switch to Chelsea, by which time he will have turned 18.

"I'm trying my best not to go through any difficulties, so I try to take English [classes]," he told PLACAR. "Traveling makes it a bit more difficult, but I try to do it at least twice a week.

"I have a fitness trainer who helps me with what I'll face there. We want to adapt to the different scenarios that will happen so as not to suffer so much.

"I don't know how long I'll stay during my visit in December. It's definitely a place I really want to go to. People say it's one of the best cities in the world and I really want to go and see it, to get to know where my future will be and I hope I really like it."

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