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Man Utd once battled Chelsea for £29m Brazilian talent now emerging as global star

Originally posted on HITC | By Jonny Maze | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 8:16 AM ET

Manchester United have missed out on their fair share of talented players over the years, and that list doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter.

Had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer been able to bring in all of his main targets during his time in charge, it’s easy to imagine United looking a lot different today. Names like Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Moises Caicedo all come to mind when thinking about how much stronger the squad could have been.

Ineos are placing more trust in their scouts’ ability to identify top talent early on and follow through with signings. The hope is that this approach will lead to fewer missed opportunities going forward.

Another name worth mentioning is one who first drew interest from United as a 16-year-old and has since developed into a player on the verge of breaking into the world-class bracket.

Manchester United were one of the clubs in the mix to sign Estevao

There’s a new name getting attention in both the Premier League and international football: Brazilian youngster Estevao, currently with Chelsea.

In 2022, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea were all after him, but it was the Blues who landed the Palmeiras winger in a deal worth £29m.

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Back then, people called him ‘Messinho,’ and he’s starting to show why he earned that nickname. Even at just 18, he’s making an impact for Chelsea. He recently scored his first Premier League goal against Liverpool.

Already one of Chelsea’s standout performers this season, Estevao ranks in the 98th percentile for successful dribbles per 90 minutes, highlighting just how dangerous he is on the ball.

Estevao becoming a key figure for Brazil ahead of the World Cup

Estevao is making his mark with the national team, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over South Korea and establishing himself as one of the squad’s most reliable players alongside Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.

The timing couldn’t be better, with the World Cup in North America just seven months away. The Chelsea winger now looks set to play a central role for Brazil, giving him another platform to build on what has already been an impressive rise since joining Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea paid £29m to bring Estevao to England when he was only 16. Now, there’s hope under Ineos that United will become more willing to back their scouts in future windows and not hesitate on the next young player who shows similar potential.

If all goes well for Estevao and Brazil next summer, he could be holding onto his first ever World Cup title at only 19 years old.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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