He will be a top player - Maresca backs Estevao Willian's £100m valuation

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has endorsed the view that winger Estevao Willian is already worth over £100 million, following the teenager's impactful performance in a 3-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The Brazilian prodigy made an immediate difference after coming off the bench, delivering a key pass into the box that led to Joao Pedro scoring Chelsea's second goal.

Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto also found the net, securing a win that propelled the Blues to second in the Premier League table.

Before the match, former Wolves boss Gary O'Neil had suggested that only the form of Pedro Neto was keeping the 18-year-old from a regular starting spot in the Chelsea lineup.

After the final whistle, Maresca was full of praise for Estevao, whose recent displays have drawn major attention. When asked about a recent CIES Football Observatory valuation that placed the winger's worth at £104 million, the Chelsea manager was in full agreement.

"You can see that, absolutely. He is top. For this club in the next five, ten years, he will be a top, top, top player," Maresca said

Chelsea signed Estevao from Palmeiras for an initial fee of just £29 million, a figure that already appears to be a bargain. While add-ons and clauses will likely increase the final transfer cost, his current trajectory suggests he will be worth every penny.

Despite his youth and relatively short time in elite European football, the suggestion that Estevao is a £100 million player is not far-fetched. At only 18, he has already demonstrated his ability in both the Premier League and the Champions League, showcasing a remarkably high ceiling.

In a transfer market where defensive midfielders have commanded fees exceeding £100 million, Estevao's value as a dynamic, game-changing attacker is clear.