The Spanish newspaper "Sport" revealed the reasons why FC Barcelona did not sign the Brazilian winger Estêvão, who is currently being compared to Lamine Yamal after his impressive performances with Chelsea. The newspaper explained that sporting director Deco had prioritized the player, especially since Estêvão showed a strong desire to join Barcelona. However, the club declined to enter the race to sign him despite having a preliminary agreed price.

According to the newspaper, the decision was made in the summer of 2024 when Barcelona decided not to make any financial offer because the player would not have found a place in the team. Additionally, the transfer fee exceeded 40 million euros. Although his agent, André Cury, was trying to finalize the deal after completing the Vitinho Roque transfer, only the latter move was completed, while the Estêvão deal was ultimately rejected.

The newspaper explained that the primary reason was sporting: Estêvão plays in the same position as Lamine Yamal, making his chances of playing almost impossible given the clear preference for Lamine. Although those close to the player tried to emphasize the possibility of changing his position to midfield, Barcelona was not convinced, especially since Estêvão continues to excel as a winger with Chelsea, which is the position where he clearly stands out.

The second reason was economic: Barcelona had the priority in negotiations, but their budget did not allow them to compete, leading to their final rejection in January 2024. After that, Chelsea stepped in strongly and succeeded in signing the player in July 2024 for 45 million euros, plus 16.5 million in add-ons. Since his arrival in 2025, after turning 18, he has become one of the most promising rising talents in the English Premier League and the Champions League.

The newspaper pointed out that Estêvão's value has risen rapidly, and his coach Enzo Maresca believes that the competition between Estêvão and Lamina could in the future resemble the famous rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, especially since Chelsea holds a long-term contract with the player until 2033.

The report emphasized that Estivao never hides his love for Barcelona and his desire to play for the club in the future. However, the club mentioned the difficulty of the deal due to the lack of available spots and sufficient budget, despite expecting the player's talent to explode as it is happening now.