After a disappointing previous season, Manchester United supporters find their Tuesdays and Wednesdays largely devoid of football action. Consequently, they turn their attention to select Champions League games that pique their interest.

Although some might be tempted to ignore the tournament altogether in favor of watching shows like I’m A Celebrity, the Chelsea versus Barcelona match on Tuesday night presents an appealing alternative. At Stamford Bridge, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are poised to make appearances on the left wings, offering United fans a familiar sight.

While they previously teamed up 39 times for Manchester United, Garnacho and Rashford now find themselves as competitors, each proving their worth to their new clubs. Garnacho secured a £40 million move to Chelsea, while Rashford is on loan at Barcelona, with a potential permanent transfer option for a similar amount next summer.

This match is set to highlight the talents of Estevao and Lamine Yamal, both regarded as top-tier 18-year-olds in the football world. It marks the first professional encounter between the two, though many anticipate numerous future clashes as they are tipped to vie for Ballon d’Or accolades in the years ahead.

Representing Brazil and Spain, respectively, Estevao and Yamal are hailed as the most promising teenagers in international football. According to the CIES Football Observatory, their market values stand at £104 million and £308 million, though neither player is currently available for transfer.

Estevao Willian officially joined Chelsea from Palmeiras earlier this year after turning 18, in a deal that could rise to £55million

Chelsea had been tracking Estevao (right) for years via their international scouting network

Barcelona had shown interest in Estevao before Chelsea secured his signature in a pre-agreement at the age of 17 in 2024. Joining from Palmeiras upon reaching 18, Estevao’s transfer fee could rise to £55 million this summer. The young Brazilian was even dubbed ‘the next Neymar’ by some observers at the time of his signing.

The Brazilian’s agent is Andre Cury, a former Nike executive who had helped Barca sign a long list of South Americans over the years, including Neymar when he joined from Santos in 2013.

Cury’s relationship with Barca is so close that when reports emerged alleging he had earned a healthy £5.9m commission on Neymar’s sale to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the Spanish club released a statement threatening legal action, writing: ‘Mr Cury has a non-exclusive contractual relationship with the club, through his company, to undertake scouting.’

Despite this powerful football figure’s history of helping Barcelona land Neymar, Paulinho, Yerry Mina, Philippe Coutinho, Arthur Melo and more – and Estevao himself previously being quoted as saying playing for Barca would be a ‘dream’ – Cury did not take his client to the Nou Camp this time.

He had taken another Brazilian wonderkid in Vitor Roque there on a pre-agreement penned at the age of 17 the previous year. Once 18, he signed a long contract which included a staggering £427m buyout clause. Reports said he cost £25.6m rising to £52m. 

However, there appeared frustration at how the 18-year-old was then handled, a lack of opportunities meaning he spent barely a single season at Barca. He is now 20 and back in Brazil with Palmeiras.

Instead, Chelsea won the race for the left-footed right-sided Estevao. How? Time was of the essence, especially with Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich and more circling. 

Chelsea had been tracking him for years via their international scouting network. He had become the youngest Brazilian to sign a sponsorship deal with Nike at the age of 10, so his blossoming talent was hardly a big secret, but we are told the Blues got down to business earlier than their rivals.

Estevao is new to the Premier League but has already impressed to the extent Chelsea fans want him to start more often 

Eventually, Chelsea fans can expect to see Estevao being used in a central position rather than on the right, in a transition similar to what we have seen with Cole Palmer

They did not need to waste time doing extra homework – Alysson Marins is now one of their chief scouts based in Brazil and Daily Mail Sport understands he is flying to London for Tuesday’s Champions League clash – and, crucially, Estevao had long been aware of Chelsea’s interest, too.

Sources within Stamford Bridge say their landing of Estevao before everyone else was largely to do with the conviction and personality of the player. He had his choice of projects and chose theirs, having known of their plans for his progress for some time. 

Eventually, we can expect to see Estevao being used in a central position rather than on the right, in a transition similar to what we have seen with Cole Palmer, who now plays as a No 10 for Chelsea.

The Blues’ recruiters also benefitted from having the backing of their owners to complete such a signing. Not every executive would sanction a minimum £29m purchase of a prospect still only 17, but they are glad they did now. 

Chelsea are in no rush to overuse him. He is new to the Premier League, they want to protect him, and there is plenty of time. He is contracted until 2032, after all.

Enzo Maresca said when asked about Estevao and Yamal yesterday: ‘Estevao is already playing at a high level. He is already starting for Brazil. For sure, he is very young, for sure he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him. It’s nice for people that love football to watch players like Estevao, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri. 

‘This is the beauty of football. We are happy that Estevao is with us, and for sure he is going to do well. He has to enjoy football, he has to be happy, he has to not think about being better than this player or that player. 

‘He has just to be better than himself, day by day, try to work hard, improve. He is going to be a top player for this club.’ 

Estevao had his choice of projects and chose Chelsea’s, having known of their plans for his progress for some time

Estevao has scored in his last six starts for club and country, three for Chelsea and four for Brazil

Yet that slowly-slowly approach is difficult to execute when Chelsea’s supporters have such high expectations and are so disappointed with him not starting every week. He has already scored four goals for them this season in all competitions.

Estevao was a substitute at Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. He had removed his training gear in the 88th minute – and there was a great deal of the clobber because he finds London such a cold climate, let alone Lancashire – when he was told to get dressed again. That was because he had watched the man he would have replaced in Pedro Neto help create Chelsea’s second goal.

A few fans took that as an affront. Actually, maybe it was a compliment in that Enzo Maresca figured the game was won and there was no need to risk Estevao against a bunch of frustrated Burnley players when Barcelona are their next opponents. The fact that Neto, whom Maresca favours as his right winger in the Premier League, played the full 90 makes you wonder if he will be the substitute this time in the Champions League.

Perhaps, it is Estevao’s turn. Chelsea’s supporters certainly hope so. He has scored in his last six starts for club and country, so it would not be the worst idea, and it would allow neutrals like United fans to see whether he can upstage Barcelona’s own teenage virtuoso in Yamal.