Chelsea’s frozen out João Felix has officially announced his intention to return to Benfica this summer.
From football genius, to giant transfer to the bench
The Portuguese international finds himself on the fringes of Chelsea’s squad, just one year after joining the club for a staggering sum of €52 million. Felix failed to play his way into Enzo Maresca’s “first team” last season and spent the second half of the year on loan at AC Milan.
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His performances in Serie A also disappointed, and AC Milan naturally chose not to extend his loan deal or discuss a permanent transfer. Felix was excluded from Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad and now wants to leave Stamford Bridge.
Benfica as first choice
The 25-year-old has received interest from newly promoted Saudi Arabian NEOM SC, but the strongest rumours link him to his childhood club Benfica – where he first broke through before his record-breaking €127.2 million move to Atlético Madrid in 2019.
Benfica president Rui Costa has confirmed that he would “love” to bring Felix back, but admitted that financial challenges could be too great. Still, Felix himself seems determined for a return.
Felix: “I need to feel at home”
In an interview with Correio da Manhã, Felix stated:
“With Bruno Lage as coach – who I know and who was important for my career – it influences my decision. I would be very happy to return to Benfica.”
“That’s probably where I’m most inclined. I feel like I have to be somewhere I can call home, which is why Benfica is one of the options I’m considering.”
Financial Challenges
According to A Bola, Benfica are willing to pay up to €30 million for Felix, which would make him the club’s third-most expensive signing ever (after Enzo Fernández and Darwin Núñez). But his high salary can still be a big obstacle. – You have to deliver to defend a salary of over 4 million euros.
Felix’s career has stalled since leaving Benfica as a teenage genius, and now he seems to be taking refuge where it all started to rekindle his potential.
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