November 19th 2024.
Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Chelsea, has not given much playing time to Christopher Nkunku this season. Emmanuel Petit, a former player for the club, has a theory about why this may be the case. Many were excited when Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig 18 months ago, but injuries and a change in management have hindered his progress.
Maresca has chosen to rely on Nicolas Jackson as his main attacking force this season. Although Nkunku has shown promise with 10 goals in just 17 appearances, most of these have been in cup competitions. On top of that, the emergence of Cole Palmer has limited Nkunku's opportunities to play in his preferred position. This lack of time on the field has led to speculation that Nkunku may be considering a move to Manchester United in the upcoming transfer window.
However, Petit believes that Maresca is looking towards the future and making room in the squad for the arrival of Brazilian sensation, Estevao. The 17-year-old has broken records previously held by Neymar in his home country and is set to join the Chelsea first team next season. Petit shared his thoughts on this potential move, saying, "Christopher Nkunku is not a priority for Chelsea because they have plans to play Estevao Willian in his position. His agent has already confirmed that everything is in place with the Chelsea board and he will be playing as a number 10 next season."
Nkunku has performed well for Chelsea and has also made appearances for the French national team, but his injuries have held him back from reaching his full potential. While the club would be pleased to keep him, it seems that he is not their main focus. Chelsea has a history of successful Brazilian players, including Willian, Ramires, Oscar, Felipe Luis, and most recently, Thiago Silva. However, Petit believes that Estevao could surpass them all.
"There is no limit to Estevao Willian's potential as a player," Petit stated. "But Chelsea must be patient with him. He has already achieved amazing things in Brazil, but some players have promising starts to their careers and then fizzle out after a few years. I have seen him play and he has something special. He is the type of player that you would pay to watch. He has all the qualities to have an incredible career, but in football, things can change quickly."
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