Chelsea’s Joao Felix could be offered an unexpected exit route from West London this summer, with Brazilian club Flamengo reportedly interested in signing the Portuguese playmaker.
While Felix didn’t make a significant impact during his short loan stint with Chelsea in 2023, he was signed permanently for £45m from Atletico Madrid last summer, as Conor Gallagher moved in the opposite direction.
The 25-year-old played just 363 minutes in the Premier League during the first half of the season, with new manager Enzo Maresca primarily using him in the Conference League and domestic cup competitions. Felix was then loaned to AC Milan in the January transfer window, but the Rossoneri have decided not to make the move permanent, following a request from manager Sergio Conceicao, whose future at the club is uncertain after a series of disappointing results.
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With Maresca unlikely to reintegrate Felix into the Chelsea squad upon his return from Milan, doubts are growing about the future of the once highly-rated star.
Brazilian outlet Vene Casagrande first reported that Flamengo are interested in offering Felix an opportunity to revive his career. The Brazilian club, managed by former Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis, who briefly played alongside Felix at Atletico Madrid in 2019, are keen to sign him on an initial loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the Brazilian season in December. They hope to have Felix in their squad for the Club World Cup this summer, where Chelsea will face Flamengo in their second group game.
Although Chelsea would be open to facilitating the move, AS reports that Felix himself is not eager to leave Europe. The Portuguese international believes there is still potential for him to succeed in European football, despite struggling since his high-profile move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Felix struggled to find his best form at Atletico, and his time at Chelsea, Barcelona, and Milan has shown only glimpses of his potential. He has scored just once for Milan as the 2024/25 season nears its conclusion.
