The Brazilian winger suffered a serious tear to the posterior thigh muscle earlier this season and has been absent since. Chelsea's medical staff have consistently favoured surgery as the safest long-term route, particularly given the number of muscular absences Estêvão has already accumulated in his debut season in England.
The club view him as central to their long-term project and are unwilling to take risks with recurring injuries at this stage of his development.
Estêvão and his entourage have held an equally firm position throughout. According to Globo Esporte, they continue to believe conservative treatment is the correct course of action and remain opposed to an operation.
What has shifted is the context. When the debate first emerged, Estêvão's camp could point to the World Cup as a reason to avoid surgery — a procedure that would likely rule him out of Brazil's tournament preparations. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti subsequently left him off the preliminary squad entirely, making that argument irrelevant.
Yet the disagreement has not moved. Chelsea and the player's representatives are still on opposite sides of the same question, which suggests this is a genuine difference in medical philosophy rather than a tactical position driven by the tournament.
Chelsea are understood to be monitoring the situation closely and remain in dialogue with Estêvão's camp. The club have not forced the issue, but their preference for surgery has not softened either. A resolution is likely needed before the start of pre-season preparations if the forward is to play any part in Xabi Alonso's first campaign.