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Forest target Brazil's 'modern day Drogba'

Forest target Brazil's 'modern day Drogba'

BBC News23-06-2025
Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, 24, has been named player of the match in both of his games at the Club World Cup.He is arguably the breakout player in the tournament so far and will get another chance to impress against Atletico Madrid on Monday evening.He is nicknamed Little Frog, is a huge fan of the Anime series Dragon Ball Z and has been heavily linked with a move to Nottingham Forest.But who is he?Jesus started his career at Coritiba, a then Serie-B side based in Brazil's eighth largest city.As an 18-year-old he scored three goals in 24 appearances to help Coritiba secure promotion.But, after initially struggling at a higher level, he left midway through the following campaign to join Emirati side Shabab Al-Ahli.He spent four seasons in the Middle East, scoring 46 goals in 92 games, before returning to Brazil by joining Botafogo in July 2024.There he has excelled. He led the line as his side lifted the Serie A and Copa Libertadores titles last season.Unsurprisingly, the scouting departments at numerous club around the world are on high alert.Jesus even made his Brazil debut last October, scoring in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win in difficult conditions in Chile.South American football expert Tim Vickery called him , external "the modern-day Drogba" after his goal against Paris St-Germain, a side who had thrashed Inter Milan in the Champions League final just 20 days before.Read more about Igor Jesus here
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Chelsea's new superstar Estevao Willian SNUBS offer to join team-mates at Club World Cup for heartwarming reason
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Chelsea's new superstar Estevao Willian SNUBS offer to join team-mates at Club World Cup for heartwarming reason

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRAZILIAN sensation Estevao Willian rejected the offer to spend the rest of the Club World Cup with his Chelsea team-mates - because he wanted to say a proper goodbye. Enzo Maresca and the Blues hierarchy urged teenage starlet Estevao to share the Chelsea embrace after the youngster scored against his new side in the quarter-final showdown in Philadelphia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Palmeiras' Estevao douses himself in in his final game for the club Credit: AP 3 Cole Palmer was seen exchanging words with his soon to be teammate Estevao Willian. Credit: AFP 3 Chelsea players were keen to make him feel welcome Credit: AFP Cole Palmer was just one of a clutch of Chelsea players who spoke to Estevao after the final whistle as they welcomed the youngster. They included Reece James, who spoke his 'welcome to Stamford Bridge' message in Portuguese, Enzo Fernandez, Liam Delap, Moises Caicedo and another new recruit, Dario Essugo. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN Despite being touched by the invitation, Estevao said he had a debt to his pals at Palmeiras that needed to be repaid before he could move on with the next chapter of his life in London. READ MORE FOOTBALL BACK TO ROO IN THE STUDIO Wayne Rooney lands £800,000 deal to be Match of the Day pundit That meant getting on a flight back to Sao Paulo rather than moving on to New York with Maresca's men ahead of their semi-final against Fluminense. The youngster explained: "I had to ask Essugo what Cole had said to me. He laughed a bit before translating, telling me 'Cole said he's excited for you and want you to come with us after the game'." Estevao added: 'I wanted to stay some more time with my team pals. 'I came here with them. And I should go back to Brazil with them. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'My heart is broken because only we know how hard we worked. 'But I leave with pride. And I am happy to have a giant club as Chelsea opening its doors to me. 'He didn't understand a single word' - Cole Palmer reveals what he told Willian Estevao after Chelsea's win vs Palmeiras 'I just wanted to show my new fans in England who I am. That it is all. 'I hope to learn. I am sure I come to London to evolve, and to make history there too. 'Chelsea, though, can wait a few more days. 'I want to say goodbye properly to each and every player, technical staff and working person at our base camp.' Estevao's emotional departure was also a huge signal to Maresca and the Chelsea dressing room that they are getting a gem - and one close, potentially ready, to adorn the team. Enzo told the 19-year-old: 'We'll make history together' while fellow Brazilian new boy Joao Pedro hugged him and said: "This is your new home, little brother.' Delap offered a warm and enthusiastic handshake, Christopher Nkunku, Essugo and Caicedo pushed him gently and messed with his hair, before Brazilian Andrey Santos greeted him in their native tongue and spent a minute locked in an embrace of friendship. There was a final, parting, conversation with Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira in a quiet hallway. Ferreira said: 'You're leaving through the big door. 'But now it's time to close cycles and believe in your future.'

Maresca on Lavia's fitness, Madueke's mindset and Silva reunion
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Maresca on Lavia's fitness, Madueke's mindset and Silva reunion

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Chelsea's new superstar Estevao Willian SNUBS offer to join team-mates at Club World Cup for heartwarming reason
Chelsea's new superstar Estevao Willian SNUBS offer to join team-mates at Club World Cup for heartwarming reason

The Sun

time22 minutes ago

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Chelsea's new superstar Estevao Willian SNUBS offer to join team-mates at Club World Cup for heartwarming reason

BRAZILIAN sensation Estevao Willian rejected the offer to spend the rest of the Club World Cup with his Chelsea team-mates - because he wanted to say a proper goodbye. Enzo Maresca and the Blues hierarchy urged teenage starlet Estevao to share the Chelsea embrace after the youngster scored against his new side in the quarter-final showdown in Philadelphia. 3 3 3 Cole Palmer was just one of a clutch of Chelsea players who spoke to Estevao after the final whistle as they welcomed the youngster. They included Reece James, who spoke his 'welcome to Stamford Bridge' message in Portuguese, Enzo Fernandez, Liam Delap, Moises Caicedo and another new recruit, Dario Essugo. Despite being touched by the invitation, Estevao said he had a debt to his pals at Palmeiras that needed to be repaid before he could move on with the next chapter of his life in London. That meant getting on a flight back to Sao Paulo rather than moving on to New York with Maresca's men ahead of their semi-final against Fluminense. The youngster explained: "I had to ask Essugo what Cole had said to me. He laughed a bit before translating, telling me 'Cole said he's excited for you and want you to come with us after the game'." Estevao added: 'I wanted to stay some more time with my team pals. 'I came here with them. And I should go back to Brazil with them. 'My heart is broken because only we know how hard we worked. 'But I leave with pride. And I am happy to have a giant club as Chelsea opening its doors to me. 'He didn't understand a single word' - Cole Palmer reveals what he told Willian Estevao after Chelsea's win vs Palmeiras 'I just wanted to show my new fans in England who I am. That it is all. 'I hope to learn. I am sure I come to London to evolve, and to make history there too. 'Chelsea, though, can wait a few more days. 'I want to say goodbye properly to each and every player, technical staff and working person at our base camp.' Estevao's emotional departure was also a huge signal to Maresca and the Chelsea dressing room that they are getting a gem - and one close, potentially ready, to adorn the team. Enzo told the 19-year-old: 'We'll make history together' while fellow Brazilian new boy Joao Pedro hugged him and said: "This is your new home, little brother.' Delap offered a warm and enthusiastic handshake, Christopher Nkunku, Essugo and Caicedo pushed him gently and messed with his hair, before Brazilian Andrey Santos greeted him in their native tongue and spent a minute locked in an embrace of friendship. There was a final, parting, conversation with Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira in a quiet hallway. Ferreira said: 'You're leaving through the big door. 'But now it's time to close cycles and believe in your future.'

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