The key facts

  • Alonso: «There have been no discussions about a loan», Estevao will stay at the club
  • The player has logged 172 minutes this season and has never started in the Premier League
  • His path to the lineup is blocked by the Rogers — Palmer — Joao Pedro trio

Alonso: no loan talks

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday, on the eve of the Premier League match against Manchester United, that there have been no discussions about loaning out 19-year-old Brazilian Estevao in the January transfer window: «There have been no discussions about a loan». At the same time, he promised that the player would get playing time: «Of course he will play. The season is long, and everyone will have their moments. He will have his matches, his minutes.»

Few minutes and a blocked path to the lineup

Estevao was one of the few bright players in the unsuccessful season for the Blues, after which Liam Rosenior was sacked in April, but under Alonso he has yet to make a single start in the Premier League, having logged only 172 minutes for the first team this season. On Wednesday he sat on the bench for the entire match as Chelsea were knocked out of the League Cup, losing to Liverpool on penalties. His path into the starting lineup is blocked by Alonso's preferred attacking trio — Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.

Context

The statement came amid reports of a possible January loan for the former Palmeiras player. Chelsea, having suffered a series of defeats, will look to return to winning ways at home against a struggling Manchester United on Saturday.