In a hilarious twist that’s got Chelsea fans buzzing, Cole Palmer’s cheeky nickname for his teenage teammate Estevao has finally been unveiled—and trust us, it’s pure gold! The England star, who’s been sidelined for months, dropped the bombshell in a recent training video that’s blowing up on social media. But hold on, because this bromance is next-level adorable.
Palmer, the 23-year-old wizard who swapped Manchester City for Stamford Bridge, hasn’t laced up his boots since Chelsea’s gut-wrenching defeat at Old Trafford back in late September. He was forced off early with a nagging groin injury, only to add insult to… well, injury… by fracturing his toe in a freak accident at home—stubbing it on a door, of all things! Ouch doesn’t even cover it.
But the wait is over! Palmer’s on the cusp of a triumphant return, and Chelsea’s social media team gave fans a sneak peek with a video of him smashing shots into the net during training at Cobham. Every single one was a screamer—classic Palmer magic. Then, as he jogged off the pitch, he shouted out to his young pal: “Steve!” Yep, you read that right. The Brazilian sensation Estevao, who’s been turning heads since his arrival, gets called “Steve” by his mentor. How random is that? We’re dying laughing over here!
Embed X: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1995940844093014451
This unlikely duo has formed an unbreakable bond since Estevao, still just 18, joined the Blues in a blockbuster £29million deal from Palmeiras last summer. The kid’s not shy about it either—in an interview shortly after touching down in west London, he gushed about Palmer being “like his brother.” When quizzed on their on-pitch chemistry, Estevao explained: “I think it’s because of the way he plays, right? He’s practically like my brother. Me on the wing attacking well, he can connect the game on both sides, so it ends up being easier for my adaptation because of the way he plays. So I’m very happy.”
And boy, has Estevao hit the ground running! The teenage phenom has already bagged five goals this season, with his latest stunner coming in Chelsea’s dominant 3-0 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League last week. He even earned a starting spot against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where the Blues battled to a gritty 1-1 draw despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Now, Enzo Maresca’s squad sits six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal as they gear up for tonight’s showdown with Leeds United. The Italian boss isn’t taking anything for granted, issuing a stern warning to his players about complacency. “Now, the main message for me is quite clear,” Maresca said yesterday. “How many points beating Barcelona? Three points. How many points beating Arsenal? Three points. How many points beating Leeds? Three points.
“I understand that there are games that are more important for different reasons, but again, it’s three points, so it’s important to beat Leeds, because we need to win games. Leeds and Bournemouth, both games, especially away, are difficult for Chelsea. They are difficult for any team. They’re going to be different games compared to Barcelona, Arsenal. We need to be ready. We need to try to win both.”
Chelsea will still be missing Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo—the latter could’ve stepped in for the suspended Moises Caicedo after his red card against Arsenal. But the big news? Palmer’s back in the mix! “He is available, he can start,” Maresca confirmed. “The idea is to start giving minutes until he can play 90.”
With “Steve” (we mean Estevao) firing on all cylinders and Palmer ready to weave his spells again, Chelsea’s attack could be unstoppable. Fans, get ready—this dynamic duo is about to light up the Premier League! What do you think of the nickname? Drop your reactions below—we’re still chuckling!