""When Estevao got on the ball it was astonishing, it wasn't normal. He already had close control, the ability to run with it, something he still does today.""
""Stop being a coward and take Estevao off, it's not fair. He was far superior to the others. So we took him off so it didn't look bad for the other children.""
""Ivo was a goalkeeper, but he always struck the ball really well and demanded the same from Estevao. And Estevao has always been a perfectionist.""
Estevao, now 18, began his football journey at a young age in Franca, Brazil, where he impressed coaches with his exceptional skills. His father, Ivo Goncalves, advocated for his early entry into a local football school, leading to Estevao's rapid rise through age groups. Estevao's talent was evident, prompting coaches to move him up to older teams to avoid overwhelming younger players. His perfectionist nature and dedication to training, often practicing with his father, have shaped his identity as a player and contributed to his success at Chelsea.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]