Xabi Alonso has not handed Estevao Willian too many opportunities at Chelsea this season.

Estevao has yet to make a start in the Premier League. In fact, he has played just under half an hour of football in the English top flight since Alonso’s arrival.

In Alonso’s defence, he has a front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro. Unless there is a formation change, it is going to be difficult to find room for Estevao in Chelsea’s starting XI.

Palmer, Rogers and Pedro have formed arguably the best attack in England and are in undroppable form. Things could become even more difficult for Estevao if Alonso gets his hands on one of his former players.

Xabi Alonso should trust Estevao Willian instead of pushing Chelsea to sign Florian Wirtz

It has been reported that Alonso is interested in a reunion with his former player Florian Wirtz. But signing Wirtz would be a bad idea, especially when Chelsea already have Estevao.

Estevao is one of the most talented young players in the world and has an extremely high ceiling. Signing Wirtz would only get in his way and halt his development even further.

They are not exactly like-for-like, but they would be in direct competition to get into this Chelsea team. Estevao is a more right-sided player, but the twin No.10 positions in Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system are very flexible. He could start in either role and Wirtz probably could too.

It would be more competition that Estevao does not need. Estevao is not playing right now, but when the young Brazilian did last season, he shone.

Despite still being a teenager, the 19-year-old was direct and not afraid. As per FotMob, he completed 3.09 successful dribbles per 90 minutes during the 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Estevao outperformed 94.7% of players in his position there.

Wirtz did not complete as many dribbles per 90 minutes, registering an average of 1.47. But the biggest problem is the German just did not score enough goals or provide enough assists.

In 33 Premier League outings, Wirtz scored five goals and set up another three. It is not enough for a £116m attacker.

Estevao’s numbers were hardly amazing after he recorded just four goal contributions. But the Brazil international played fewer games and minutes.

Overall, Estevao is still a capable finisher, and Chelsea supporters saw that from his strikes against Barcelona in the Champions League and against the Blues at the Club World Cup. Estevao will come good for them, he has too much potential not to. A bit of patience is needed from all parties.

Bringing in Wirtz would ruin things. Alonso just needs to trust Estevao, but whether the former Palmeiras star is willing to bide his time remains to be seen.

There have already been murmurs about Estevao being discontent. Sign Wirtz, and that could be the final nail in the coffin.