Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that Estevao's limited playing time at Chelsea will not be a reason to exclude him from the Brazil squad. The coach says the national team have different priorities and the 19-year-old remains an important part of his plans.
Estevao has played just 204 minutes in the Premier League this season.
Xabi Alonso brought the Brazilian on after half-time in Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
Estevao has yet to establish himself in the starting line-up. Pedro Neto has played more often on the wing in Alonso's system, while Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers provide competition for Estevao in central areas.
Ancelotti acknowledges that every young Brazilian player would benefit from more playing time:
“It would be better if they played more often.
“Not so much because of their current form, but for their development.
“But you can also look at it another way: they arrive with the national team fresh and rested.
“So they can perform well here.”
The Brazil coach also spoke specifically about Estevao:
“We expect Estevao to show his strengths.
“We will continue to monitor him.
“Even if he doesn't play a single minute for Chelsea, we will still watch him until we decide he is no longer useful to the national team.
“As long as we consider him useful, we will continue to monitor him and give him opportunities to develop.
“He is only 19.
“We have different priorities from Chelsea.”
Estevao has already scored five goals for Brazil under Ancelotti.
He has yet to score or provide an assist for Chelsea this season, although he has impressed in some matches.
It was previously reported that the player himself would like more playing time and could reassess his situation in the winter if it remains unchanged.
Estevao is now joining up with Brazil for matches against Japan and Singapore, where he will have another chance to get more minutes.
