Latest news with #Willian
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Fulham plotting shock move to bring Joao Palhinha back to Craven Cottage after Bayern Munich struggles
Fulham are exploring a potential return for midfielder Joao Palhinha, who has failed to make much of an impact in his first season at Bayern Munich. Fulham sold the 29-year-old to the German giants for £48million a year ago but his game time has been limited under Vincent Kompany. He wanted to fight for his place but the Bundesliga champions are willing consider offers. A number of Premier League sides are interested in an initial loan with Fulham among those, though his salary could prove prohibitive. Palhinha started just seven matches in Germany's top flight in his debut campaign, not helped by an injury which kept him on the sidelines for more than two months. He failed to contribute a goal or an assist in his 17 appearances in all competitions and now a quick return to the Premier League could be on the horizon. The Portuguese joined the Cottagers in the summer of 2022 and went on to score eight goals in 79 appearances. A deadline day move to Bayern collapsed in 2023 with the Bavarians going on to get their man a year later. Palhinha, 29, was a member of the Portugal team that triumphed in the Nations League earlier this month but played just one minute across the semi-final and final. Fulham are yet to do much work in the market this summer but a number of departures have been announced. Willian and Carlos Vinicius are among a list of 13 players who will leave the club following the expiration of their contracts at the end of the month
Metro
5 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Former Chelsea star compares Estevao Willian to Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal
There are great expectations for in-coming Chelsea player Estevao Willian and excitement is not going to die down now he has been compared to Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal. 18-year-old Estevao signed for Chelsea from Brazilian side Palmeiras last year but is only due to join the Blues after the Club World Cup this summer. The winger has already made a big splash in his home country and has won five caps for the Brazil senior side already, despite only turning 18 in April. Chelsea fans will be drooling over the prospect of Estevao lighting up Stamford Bridge and former Blues star Willian has only added to the hype. The 70-cap Brazil international compared Estevao's style to that of Barcelona and Spain winger Yamal and said they have similarly great potential. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Without a doubt, he has a lot of potential, a lot of quality,' Willian told ESPN Brasil. 'The player has the advantage of still being so young, but with great potential like Lamine Yamal, they have a similar style. 'I hope that he can be very successful here in England playing for Chelsea, he can win many titles, score a lot of goals with the Chelsea jersey and he will help to win titles over the years.' Chelsea paid an initial £29million for the teenager, but that fee could eventually rise to £57million if he meets a number of performance-related clauses. Willian expects the youngster to do well in the Premier League, but has warned him that it will take some time to adjust to the different conditions and style of play. 'My advice is that he dedicate himself to the fullest. In England, football is quite different to what he is used to,' said the 36-year-old. 'When he gets here I think he needs some extra work at the club. 'I'm sure he has a very good head. There's no need to argue about his quality, he has more than enough quality to play for a big club like Chelsea. But I hope he can adapt as quickly as possible and get into the style of play here to be very successful.' Willian would know about adjusting to English football, having made 339 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and Europa League with the Blues. Blues fans will have the chance to see Estevao in action this summer as he is with Palmeiras at the Club World Cup in America. Palmeiras have been placed in Group A of the competition alongside Al Ahly, Inter Miami and Porto. Chelsea meanwhile find themselves in Group D alongside ES Tunis, Los Angeles FC and Flamengo. The Brazilian team got their campaign underway on Sunday with a goalless draw with Porto, a match which Estevao started. There is a possibility Chelsea and Palmeiras can meet at the quarter-final stage of the Club World Cup. More Trending Should both progress as group winners or runners-up and beat their last 16 opponents, they are possible opponents for each other at the last eight stage. Those matches in question will take place on Friday 4 July in Philadelphia and Saturday 5 July in Atlanta. With Estevao registered for the Palmeiras squad, there would be nothing to stop him from lining up against the players he will be playing alongside side as early as next month. Estevao's agent Andre Cury said in April: 'Yes, he's arriving [at Chelsea] after the Club World Cup. He's a world-class player. Very good. A guy who's going to make history here.' MORE: Enzo Maresca confirms Chelsea are working on signing after Mike Maignan transfer blow MORE: Is Chelsea vs LAFC on TV? Fifa Club World Cup team news and live stream MORE: Arsenal told to sign Manchester United transfer target instead of Chelsea flop
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Best since Neymar' - Chelsea to get early look at 'special' signing
Chelsea fans will get their first chance to watch their new wonderkid at the Fifa Club World Cup... but he will not be playing for their winger Estevao Willian will join the Blues from Palmeiras this summer in a £29m deal that was agreed in May the Sao Paolo club included a clause that meant he would play for them in the Club World Cup, now under way in the United States, before joining teams are in different groups but could meet in the quarter-finals."He's got a special talent," said new Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti after giving the 18-year-old a first international start against Ecuador."He's got character, he's a good person, he's humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful. "He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team."Former Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian told ESPN Brasil: , external"He has great potential like [Barcelona and Spain winger] Lamine Yamal, they have a similar style."I hope he can be very successful in England playing for Chelsea, that he can score a lot of goals in the Chelsea jersey and will help them to win titles."So how has Estevao - who has five Brazil caps and has scored 11 goals in 32 games this season - reached this stage? 'Best player since Neymar' Abel Ferreira hesitated for a second, insisted he wouldn't say what he had in his mind, but then - in a rare moment of full disclosure when it comes to young talents - he opened up."This player is different from everything I've ever seen," the Palmeiras coach said in a press conference in May 2024, following a 2-1 win over Botafogo-SP in the Brazilian two-time Libertadores champion is not particularly known for letting himself get carried away too easily, especially in front of the cameras. But that night, he allowed himself to speak freely because he couldn't believe his eyes - then 17-year-old Estevao had just scored the winner in the final minutes and put on a spectacular show once is the impact the left-footed winger had the season before last that Ferreira tried, in vain, to convince the club board not to sell him. That was too late, beat the competition of the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Manchester City to sign the Palmeiras wonderkid in a deal that could eventually be worth £52m and that will see him arrive at Stamford Bridge after Fifa's new Club World Cup in July Brazilian teenagers such as Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo left for Europe at the same age for huge fees. They've both proved themselves already on the big stages since then. But none of them were as hyped as Estevao when they first moved a feeling in Brazil that the boy from the countryside of Sao Paulo may be something else, the kind of player that comes along once a decade and seems destined to the very top."Estevao is the best player to have emerged from Brazilian football since Neymar. You watch him and you fall in love," the head of Palmeiras' academy, Joao Paulo Sampaio, told BBC Sport."He already impresses with his technique but, like Neymar at this same point in his career, he has not yet matured physically and is not as strong as Endrick, so he could still develop a lot. That's what amazes everyone and makes them think that he will reach a much higher level."Chelsea may have struck gold with their new signing. Forget about Messinho - his name is Estevao Estevao is a member of the so-called "geracao do bilhao" - a generation of players that also includes Real Madrid-bound Endrick and West Ham's new starlet Luis Guilherme and with whom Palmeiras expected to make 1bn Brazilian Real (around £152m).All three have been making waves since they were kids - Estevao himself was only 10 the first time Palmeiras tried to lure him to their academy, but failed to match an offer reportedly 10 times higher from then became the youngest Brazilian footballer to sign a contract with Nike, surpassing Neymar (13) and Rodrygo (11), and was dubbed 'Messinho' (little Messi) for his ability to change direction and dribble past opponents while running with the ball at hardly came as a surprise to those who had been following him when Spanish newspaper AS said during the 2023 U-17 World Cup that "Brazil have a new genius".Despite the similarities with Lionel Messi, Estevao has stated he doesn't want to be called 'Messinho' not only his left foot that leaves others fascinated, but also the mentality he already possesses. Sampaio recalls an episode that illustrated that."When we won the 2022 U-17 Brazilian Championship title, Estevao ended up breaking one of his toes during a decisive game," he said."But even so he still didn't want to leave [the game], so he came to me at half-time saying, 'I'll go back for the second half'. And I challenged him: 'You better go back.' And so he had a painkilling injection in his toe and told me, 'I'll go back, score a goal and look for you in the stands to shush you.' That's how strong he is mentally." No concern at all about Chelsea situation A right winger who can also play as number 10, Estevao has always been treated was still five months away from being able to sign his first senior contract at the age of 16 when Palmeiras, in an unusual move, announced they had agreed the terms of decision to choose Chelsea as the next step in his career has been questioned back home, due to the confusing situation of the English club and their recent record with young Brazilians such as Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo staff has told BBC Sport they have no concerns whatsoever about it and added they believe a transfer to West London will give him a chance to break into the team more quickly compared to other the 2026 World Cup as his main goal, the plan is to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge once he arrives."I would say that with Estevao it's not a matter of whether this place is easier or not because he's the kind of player that just goes there and gets things done. When you are an extra-class like him, that's how you do it," Sampaio concluded.A version of this article was first published in July 2024
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fulham announce the release of 13 players including Willian and Carlos Vinicius as captain Tom Cairney is offered a new deal
Fulham have announced Willian and Carlos Vinicius will leave the club following the expiration of their contracts at the end of the month. Willian, who rejoined the Cottagers earlier this year on a free, will end a third spell at Craven Cottage having made 79 appearances for them since his debut in 2022. Striker Vinicius also bids farewell having been surplus to requirements in west London, with him being third choice behind Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz. Captain Tom Cairney was linked with a free transfer to newly-promoted Sky Bet Championship club Wrexham. However, he has been offered a new deal by the club alongside Kenny Tete, who manager Marco Silva is interested in keeping at right-back. Youth players Luc De Fougerolles, Callum Osmand and Lemar Gordon have also been offered deals to extend their time at Fulham. A Fulham statement read: 'the club can confirm that Willian and Carlos Vinicius will depart Fulham upon the expiry of their respective contracts at the end of this month. 'Tom Cairney and Kenny Tete have been offered new contracts, as have Luc De Fougerolles, Callum Osmand and Lemar Gordon. 'Willian departs after a third spell at Craven Cottage, bringing his total number of appearances for the Club to 79. 'Over the last three years, the experienced winger scored 10 times and laid on seven assists, playing a valuable role in helping Fulham record three consecutive mid-table finishes. 'His immaculate strike against Nottingham Forest in 2022/23 ended up winning Goal of the Season, while he also netted incredibly memorable goals against Leeds, Chelsea and Wolves. 'Carlos Vinicius arrived on deadline day at the beginning of our first season back in the Premier League. 'His first goal in black and white will forever be fondly remembered by fans, as his header clinched a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in January 2023 – our first victory over our neighbours in 17 years. 'Another key contribution followed the next season when he bagged the winner against Luton Town within minutes of coming off the bench, before he joined Galatasary on loan for the second half of the campaign. 'Vini – a lively presence around the Training Ground – departs with 11 goal involvements (8G, 3A) in 52 Fulham appearances. 'We would like to thank all the players leaving us this summer for their efforts during their time at the Club, and wish them all the very best of luck in their next chapters.'
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Willian and Vinicius to leave as Cairney and Tete get offers
Fulham have announced that Willian and Carlos Vinicius will leave the club following the expiration of their contracts at the end of the month, but have offered Tom Cairney an who only re-joined the West London side in the January transfer window on a free, will depart having made 79 appearances across three different spells in three Vinicius has been with the club since their promotion back to the Premier League for the 2022-23 season and has 11 goal contributions to his Cairney has been offered an extension with his contract also set to run out before July, despite reports linking the midfielder to the Championship's newly-promoted Wrexham. The Cottagers have also stated that they have offered new contracts to Kenny Tete and youth players Luc De Fougerolles, Callum Osmand and Lemar Gordon.
