Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has said there have been “no discussions” about sending Estêvão out on loan despite the Brazil star’s limited minutes this term.
The 19-year-old was a revelation last season after joining from Palmeiras but has played only 172 minutes under Alonso and is yet to start in the Premier League.
He remained an unused substitute as Chelsea exited the Carabao Cup to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, after which the manager suggested that the winger was still acclimatising to the physicality of English football.
So far he has found his way into the side blocked by a favoured front three of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and João Pedro, though even when players have been unavailable Alonso has still preferred other options over the Brazilian.
“Sure, he will play,” Alonso said. “The season is long and there will be moments for everyone.
“It’s a process, for the team, for [Estêvão], for myself. But I’m sure that in the season, he will have his games, his minutes. We are still early in the season but he will be there.”
Asked whether the winger could be allowed to leave in January, Alonso said: “No discussions about [a loan].”
Estêvão was one of few bright spots in a miserable year for Chelsea last season. There had been significant anticipation about his arrival, agreed in the summer of 2024 but delayed for a year allowing him to remain with his boyhood club in Brazil, and he quickly became a favourite amongst supporters.
His stoppage-time winner against champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in October was arguably Chelsea’s best moment of the season, rivalled only perhaps by the 3-0 win over Barcelona a month later when Estêvão scored a spectacular individual goal.
His season was ended prematurely in April due to a hamstring injury, causing him to miss the World Cup.
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Alonso said Estêvão is fully recovered and that his attitude has been good, and that it is now a matter of waiting for his moment in the team.
“It’s not about attitude, it’s been about the context of games,” he said. “He’s a great guy. It’s an adaptation, after the first year and the injury. We are still in October. He will be important.”
Chelsea face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to hit back from losing at home to Tottenham a week ago, though they will do so without Maxence Lacroix, who is set to be out until after the November international break with a hamstring injury.
Moisés Caicedo, however, is fit despite picking up a knock at Anfield.
“I saw a better version of ourselves on Wednesday [against Liverpool] than I saw on Saturday,” Alonso said. “The result at the end wasn’t good, but I want to see more of the good version of us.
“On Saturday we were not at our level. We’ll have tough moments and we need to learn from them.”
