Chelsea’s Joao Felix is reportedly close to sealing a loan deal with AC Milan, ending his brief stint at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old forward, who joined the Blues from Atletico Madrid for £46 million in the summer, has struggled to secure regular playing time.
This season, he’s only featured in three Premier League matches, which has raised questions about his future.
Villa’s Interest Fades
Although Aston Villa initially showed interest in Felix this January, their pursuit has cooled off.
Villa’s football operations president, Monchi, had mentioned that the club had tried to land Felix “practically every market” before the winter window.
However, with Villa opting for loan deals for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio instead, it seems Felix’s next destination is set to be Italy, where Chelsea stands to receive a £4.5 million loan fee.
A Tumultuous Journey for Felix
Felix’s career has seen its fair share of ups and downs.
Atletico Madrid broke the bank in 2019 to sign him from Benfica for an eye-watering £113 million.
However, his relationship with manager Diego Simeone soured, leading to loan moves to Barcelona and Chelsea.
His time in London has been far from smooth, marked by inconsistent appearances and occasional absences, such as missing Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City last month due to compassionate leave following a family bereavement.
Maresca Addresses Felix’s Role
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca recently addressed Felix’s lack of playing time, explaining that the team’s tactical setup has limited opportunities for attacking midfielders.
“The manager plays most of the games with one attacking midfielder, and that is Cole Palmer,” Maresca said after the Manchester City loss.
He stressed that Felix and fellow attacker Christo Nkunku are both talented players but have struggled to find minutes due to this tactical decision.
“The reason why is only because most of the games I decide to play with one attacking midfielder in terms of balance,” he added.
With Felix’s future now likely to lie at AC Milan, it seems his time at Chelsea is coming to a close.
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