In a bizarre twist, Chelsea could see one of their own players face them at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
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The tournament, set to take place in the United States between June 15 and July 13, 2025, will feature the most successful clubs from six international confederations. ..Continue Reading
The player in question is Estevão Willian, a 17-year-old forward who joined Chelsea in June 2024.
However, due to a FIFA rule, he cannot officially join his new teammates until his 18th birthday in April 2025.
This means that if Chelsea is drawn against Brazilian club Palmeiras, Estevão could play against his future team.
This unusual situation has sparked a lot of interest and debate among fans and analysts alike.
Estevão, who has been compared to Lionel Messi and Neymar due to his playing style, has already made a significant impact at Palmeiras and is expected to be a key player for them in the tournament.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged the potential issue and is hopeful that an “exceptional window” could be granted to allow Estevão to join the squad earlier.
However, as things stand, the young forward is set to represent Palmeiras in the Club World Cup, creating a unique scenario where he could end up playing against his future teammates.
This situation highlights the complexities of international football regulations and the challenges clubs face when signing young talents from different countries.
It will be interesting to see how this develops and whether any changes will be made to accommodate Estevão’s situation.
As the draw for the Club World Cup approaches, Chelsea fans will be eagerly watching to see if their team will face Palmeiras and whether Estevão will get the chance to play against his future club.
It’s a fascinating story that adds an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament.
