Joao Felix-Milan, it will be goodbye: future between Benfica and Saudi Arabia

Joao Felix’s adventure with the Milan shirt is coming to an end. Having arrived in the summer with high expectations and an onerous €5 million loan, the Portuguese fantasist has failed to impose himself as hoped in Coincecao’s squad. After a promising start, embellished by an elegant spoon against Roma, his performance has been progressively declining, leaving room for doubts and perplexity.

Accordingly, Milan has decided not to renew the agreement with Chelsea, the owner of the player’s card, who will now have to find a new accommodation for the talented class of 1999. There are two main roads on the horizon: a romantic return to Benfica or a cheap turn to Saudi Arabia.

The most suggestive track is undoubtedly the one leading to Lisbon. Benfica, the club where Joao Felix exploded in the 2018-19 season with 15 goals in 26 appearances as a youngster, could welcome him back on loan with a right of redemption. A return to his roots that could also represent an opportunity for a revival, away from the pressures of a soccer that seems to have overwhelmed him, especially after the record transfer to Atletico Madrid of 126 million euros.

The other option is Saudi Arabia. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is probing this possibility, attracted by an economically attractive market and a less critical and more “protected” environment than in European soccer. A context that, for a talent still young but now often discussed, could offer new motivation.

Jao Felix will leave AC Milan without great regrets on either side. His Rossoneri experience was a lackluster interlude, as also underscored by emblematic episodes, such as Kyle Walker’s words in the Champions League: “Pass the ball. We are not Messi!” A bitter ending for a talent still seeking true consecration.