By the point Benfica welcomed Eintracht Frankfurt to the Estadio da Luz in April 2019, Joao Felix was already making a reputation for himself.
The 19-year-old phenomenon had an inventory of golf equipment trailing in his wake bursting on the seams with silverware after 12 targets and 6 assists to his identify in his first full season with the Benfica senior group.
However a superb, history-making hat-trick in opposition to Frankfurt within the last-eight of the Europa League despatched each his repute and his price ticket into the stratosphere – it wasn’t simply the highest membership scouts in attendance that new they have been watching one thing really particular.
Felix was a type of slight, oh-so stylish inside forwards that’s half winger, half attacking midfielder, half second striker that allowed him to be a devastating affect in numerous positions throughout the entrance line.
Felix would finish that summer time at Atletico Madrid, who in the end received the race for his companies with a princely €127million (then round £115m) to convey him to the Spanish capital. So why simply 5 years later has been confirmed as Chelsea’s newest signing to permit to Conor Gallagher to go the opposite approach?
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of ahead Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid for £42.7m
Felix really introduced himself because the brightest younger expertise within the sport again in 2019
A hat-trick for Benfica in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt within the Europa League despatched him into the stratosphere
Felix ended up signing for Atletico Madrid for €127million (then round £115m) on the finish of 2018-19
Atletico have been the toast of the city. They’d seen off the likes of Manchester Metropolis, Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Barcelona. Oh, and Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea. After which there was Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. There weren’t that many sides within the Champions League not all in favour of Felix’s companies.
However there was already a difficulty mendacity in wait in Madrid. Diego Simeone’s aspect are famed for his or her stoic, resolute and organised construction, with Felix anticipated to be the exception that proves the rule, a stunning expertise allowed a bit extra free rein to weave his magic. That didn’t show the case.
A primary season of simply 9 targets in 36 video games, and solely two strikes in LaLiga by February, recommended teething issues, however there have been additionally health points for the younger Portuguese star, which understandably hampered his progress.
The beginning of 2020-21, although, promised the return of the Felix the world knew and cherished, with 5 targets and three assists in his first seven LaLiga video games in a superb partnership with Luis Suarez. However the minutes dried up, the accidents got here in and a coronavirus analysis all spelled one other promising season ravaged.
Although Atletico received the title that season, it was not attributable to any particular person brilliance on Felix’s half, and the participant discovered himself on the centre of controversy in the direction of the top of marketing campaign.
After coming off the bench to attain in opposition to Villarreal, Felix turned in the direction of the bench and appeared to shout ‘Shut your f***ing mouth!’. The general public have been maybe willingly persuaded by his clarification of a light-hearted jab at team-mate Renan Lodi, with whom he had an alleged wager, however with the participant not precisely on Christmas card phrases with Simeone, there was greater than a sliver of doubt.
‘In addition to expertise you want to have dedication,’ Simeone had mentioned of Felix in 2020, not mincing his phrases when discussing his younger celebrity. ‘When a participant realises why he’s taking part in for Atletico then every thing comes collectively.’
Regardless of his struggles in Spain, the expertise was clearly nonetheless clear as day. Bayern Munich and Man United have been reportedly nonetheless eager, however have been rebuffed. Atleti chiefs appeared eager for his or her document signing to show a hit slightly than face the ignominy of not with the ability to harness the largest expertise within the sport.
There have been rumours of a tough relationship between the participant and supervisor Diego Simeone
He courted controversy with a response to scoring in opposition to Villarreal within the title-winning season of 2020-21
Felix struggled to impose himself in Spain and struggled for each health and constant minutes at Atletico
Felix’s time within the Spanish capital seems over after back-to-back mortgage strikes away from the membership
One thing needed to give, although. He was being performed out of place, however struggling to adapt – whether or not via willingness or not stays unclear. A poor World Cup preceded a transfer to Chelsea on mortgage in January 2023. Would this be the contemporary begin? Might he return to the forefront with a bang?
Properly, he actually made an influence. Inside 58 minutes Felix was despatched off, and instantly the strain ratcheted up. Whereas Felix’s short-lived mortgage spell led to simply 4 Premier League targets in 16 video games and not-so thinly veiled pleas to remain on the membership that fell on deaf ears, there’s a minimum of the excuse that Chelsea at that time have been struggling in all departments, so it was not the perfect setting to flourish.
One other mortgage spell adopted in 2023-24 with Barcelona, with Felix that includes on the left wing for the overwhelming majority, and amid some a lot improved performances there have been 10 targets in all competitions in 44 matches.
Now, these usually are not the numbers of a £100m ahead, there is no such thing as a denying that. However crucially, Felix managed to remain largely match all through the season, an ankle drawback ruling him out of a handful of video games. It was essentially the most constant video games that he had had since leaving Benfica, and that in itself is a big achievement.
There was now no secret of his poor relationship with Simeone, however Felix did not precisely assist issues after scoring in opposition to Atletico for his mortgage membership final time period. That in itself is dangerous sufficient, however the truth that the Portugal star determined to face on the promoting hoards, arms unfold in celebration, effectively that will not have sat too effectively with the fanbase.
If nothing else, that certainly signalled the top of Felix’s profession in Los Colchoneros’ colors, and so after 131 video games, 34 targets and 18 assists Atletico Madrid discover themselves on the fallacious aspect of one of the vital under-whelming switch offers in current historical past.
Chelsea have retained an curiosity in Felix’s companies over the summer time, and with a six-year deal agreed between the 2 events and a reported £34m really feel in place, he appears set to return to Stamford Bridge because the Blues’ thirteenth summer time signing.
Conor Gallagher’s transfer to Atleti was confirmed on Wednesday after the Spanish aspect splashed £34m for the Chelsea academy graduate, paving the best way for Felix’s departure now that the funds have been proper for each events.
So why is the person who man the 2019 Golden Boy award, who was touted to guide Portugal into the brand new period as soon as Cristiano Ronaldo hangs up his boots, and shatter document after document on his solution to lifting an RSI-inducing variety of trophies leaving via the again door?
Felix incurred higher wrath from Atletico Madrid after celebrating a purpose in opposition to them on mortgage at Barcelona
With issues not going effectively again in Madrid, it was hardly a slight that may be brushed apart
Felix ended the season with 44 video games to his identify – essentially the most of his profession to this point
The 24-year-old is again at Chelsea the place he’ll hope to re-discover the shape that earned him the Goldenboy award
Properly, it’s honest to say that his play fashion did not really match Atletico, and the participant has not checked out a ball that may tackle Simeone in a battle of wills and are available out on high. He by no means really delivered on his hefty price ticket, however he deserves a big portion of the blame for struggling to adapt and his borderline infantile and petty celebrations in opposition to his father or mother membership.
In Felix, although, Chelsea have a ludicrously gifted particular person, who maybe wants nurturing in the precise course, a bit bit of religion to encourage these flashes of marvellous brilliance that we have been satisfied would are available Madrid, and a gentle base to re-discover his sport from.
Enzo Maresca has greater than sufficient on his plate, bedding in 12 different gamers this summer time and introducing a model new philosophy to Chelsea. They don’t seem to be at the moment the steadiest of bases by any stretch of the creativeness.
However with the Italian preferring a possession-based counter attacking fashion of play, do not be shocked if by the top of the season the world is as soon as once more clamouring for a seat to observe one of the vital technically-gifted gamers of his technology set about his craft with effervescent glee as soon as once more.
