Brazil prodigy Estevao reveals anxiety at Chelsea move

Estevao, who is set to complete his transfer to Chelsea next month in a deal agreed last year, admitted earlier this week that the looming transition has left him with "butterflies" as he prepares to say goodbye to the club where he rose to prominence.

"It's really difficult," Estevao said following Palmeiras' extra-time last-16 victory over Botafogo in Philadelphia on Saturday. "It's like a dream that I'm going to make come true. The closer it gets, the more anxiety sets in. But I'm trying to focus here, to leave (Palmeiras) in the right way."

His comments sparked debate among fans and drew criticism from some corners of the Brazilian press, who questioned whether the youngster's focus was already shifting to life at Stamford Bridge ahead of Palmeiras' Club World Cup quarterfinal clash with his club-to-be Chelsea - in an added dimension to the last-eight encounter.

Pameiras coach Abel Ferreira dismissed the backlash on Friday, urging empathy for a teenager navigating the emotional weight of a life-changing moment.

"You know the difference between a human and an animal? It's feelings, it's emotion," Ferreira said at his pre-match press conference. "It's normal to feel nervous before a big game. And it's absolutely normal for a boy whose dream is becoming reality to feel anxiety. He's 18 years old. Maybe he was a bit naive to say it out loud - and the media pounced on him, as always."

Estevao has been a key figure in Palmeiras' Club World Cup campaign so far, starting all four matches against Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami and their latest match - a 1-0 win over fellow Brazilian side Botafogo yesterday in the last 16. He will next come up against his club-to-be in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Highly regarded as one of South America's brightest prospects, he made his senior debut for Brazil in September and is widely seen as a player with the potential to thrive at the highest level.

Ferreira's defense of the teenager highlights the delicate balance between club commitment and personal milestones - especially for young stars caught between two worlds.

"He's human," Ferreira added. "Let's not forget that."