With the goal of recovering in time for the World Cup, Brazilian winger Estêvão (19) is undergoing rehabilitation at Palmeiras’ facilities in Sao Paulo under Chelsea’s supervision, a source from the Brazilian club told AFP.
The young forward ruled out surgery after suffering a thigh injury while with the English club, opting instead for conservative treatment in hopes of making Brazil’s squad for the tournament.
The footballer is working at his former team’s complex “at the request of the player’s camp and Chelsea,” the São Paulo club official said on condition of anonymity.
A product of the Brazilian club’s youth academy, Estêvão was injured on April 18 during the London side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester United.
He was forced off the pitch after just 16 minutes due to a tear in his right hamstring (posterior thigh area).
Estêvão has been Brazil’s top scorer since Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the national team last year, netting five goals in seven appearances.
According to the same source, “Chelsea sent a representative to monitor the player’s treatment.”
“He will do everything to make it happen”
AFP also contacted the English club for comment but received no response.
Ancelotti will announce his final 26-man squad on May 18 for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Brazil will compete in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
In a recent interview with AFP, João Paulo Sampaio, coordinator of Palmeiras’ youth academy, highlighted the forward’s mentality as a key factor in his bid for a World Cup comeback after the injury.
“If the doctors give him hope (of playing in the World Cup), he will do everything to make it happen,” Sampaio said at the Verdão’s training center, a nursery for talents like Endrick and Estêvão himself. “A key factor is his mentality. He has tremendous self-belief,” he added.