Afew years in the past, a extremely revered govt at a number one European membership made up his thoughts on João Félix whereas watching him play for Benfica. The potential was apparent, however an asking worth of round £100m felt steep for a participant who was not a certainty to make it on the very highest degree.
Chatting with an acquaintance on the sport, the manager stated he wouldn’t be capable of justify himself to his bosses if Félix didn’t carry out. It was higher, he defined, to let a membership barely decrease down the meals chain take the gamble and meet Benfica’s calls for. The pondering was calculated like this: both Félix would develop right into a extra rounded participant after leaving Benfica for certainly one of Europe’s high leagues, at which stage the larger membership would really feel comfy that purchasing him for a good greater charge wouldn’t be a danger or it might prove that the manager’s instincts in regards to the ahead have been proper all alongside.
Recruitment isn’t straightforward. Whereas others stood apart, Atlético Madrid took the plunge and paid £113m for Félix after he helped Benfica to the Portuguese title in 2019. There was buzz and pleasure, plus a way that Atlético have been heading in the direction of a extra refined model below the disciplined, defensive-minded Diego Simeone.
Perhaps it was a case of mistaken time, mistaken place. Though he was a part of Atlético successful La Liga in 2021, he by no means actually checked out ease. 5 years on, there have been no tears about him transferring to Chelsea for an preliminary €50m. It was a deal that suited everybody, assuming Enzo Maresca is able to figuring out the place to suit one other artistic participant into his crew and is able to succeeding the place Graham Potter and Frank Lampard failed with Félix when the 24-year-old spent the second half of 2022-23 on mortgage at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have tried to speak up the signing as a type of homecoming. They nonetheless have fond reminiscences of Félix’s first spell, regardless that he went again to Spain after scoring 4 targets in 20 video games, and there was a heat reception for the Portugal worldwide when he was launched to the group earlier than Chelsea received the primary leg of their Europa Convention League playoff towards Servette on Thursday.
However the sight of Félix tapping the badge on his chest and waving to supporters won’t fulfill those that see his return to west London by way of a extra cynical lens. There was, it have to be famous, a component of wants should given Chelsea’s transfer for an additional Atlético ahead, Samu Omorodion, had damaged down. A repair was required for Conor Gallagher’s pure-profit-generating switch to undergo.
Fortunately, Félix’s agent, Jorge Mendes, was in a position to present an answer. Mendes is near Atlético and had simply helped one other consumer, Pedro Neto, safe a transfer from Wolves to Chelsea. Hey, how about taking João as nicely? Gained’t that remedy the issue with Gallagher?
Maresca has stated he’s pleased to have added Félix to a number of creators and extensive gamers that includes Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor and Neto. A supply shut to at least one attacking participant worries the deal doesn’t make sense from a footballing perspective. Will Félix, Nkunku and Palmer mix, or will they attempt to play in the identical areas?
Maresca is assured he’ll discover the correct mix. Room is being made for Félix and Neto by the ruthless exclusion of Raheem Sterling, who is outwardly not Maresca’s “sort of winger”. Carney Chukwuemeka has additionally drifted to the margins.
Some gamers are seen as ripe for growth, whereas others are out within the chilly. Maresca, who takes his crew to Wolves on Sunday afternoon, has talked about serving to Félix fulfil his potential. He sees him enjoying extensive, as a No 10 and even as a No 9 in sure conditions.
The concern, although, is whether or not this can be a participant Chelsea actually wanted. They may say sure, taking into consideration their participation within the Convention League and subsequent summer time’s expanded Membership World Cup, however there are misgivings. It can’t be very best for Maresca to have so many forwards who’ve struggled to remain match or to provide on a constant foundation. Palmer is the one certainty. The others have a lot to show. Félix, who scored seven league targets whereas on mortgage at Barcelona final season, falls into that class.
A supply near Atlético says the criticism was that he “lacks hearth within the stomach”. Félix has had a troublesome summer time; he made one begin and one substitute look at Euro 2024 and missed the decisive spot-kick when Portugal misplaced their quarter-final to France on penalties.
That lack of ruthlessness was not a shock. Félix is a stunning participant to observe, together with his imaginative touches and impudent approach, however his ending isn’t elite. It was frequent throughout his mortgage at Chelsea to see him hit the woodwork on the finish of a winding run. He additionally appeared to battle with the tempo of the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino had little curiosity in signing him on a everlasting foundation.
With the Argentinian out of the constructing, although, Chelsea have gone again. In contrast to that high govt all these years in the past, they’ve taken the plunge. Their activity is to ensure Félix’s expertise lastly finds a house.
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