February 9th 2025.
Chelsea's recent FA Cup match against Brighton was missing one key player - Joao Felix. The decision to let the Portuguese star join AC Milan on loan in the January transfer window was defended by Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca. Unfortunately, this decision may have played a role in Chelsea's exit from the FA Cup, as they lost 2-1 to Brighton.
Maresca was asked about Felix after the match, as the 25-year-old had just scored on his debut for AC Milan in a 3-1 win over Roma. Felix was originally hesitant to go on loan, but eventually joined the Italian club on deadline day. This left Chelsea without one of their key attackers, especially since Nicolas Jackson was injured at the time.
Chelsea had signed Felix permanently from Atletico Madrid for £46m last summer, after a successful loan spell with the club in 2023. But due to his limited playing time in the Premier League this season, a loan move seemed like the best option for him. Maresca stands by his decision, stating that despite Felix's absence, the team was able to manage without him.
Maresca also mentioned how sometimes it takes playing without a player to realize their true value. Jackson's absence highlighted his importance to the team, both in his pressing off the ball and his attacking threat on it. But Maresca remains confident that Jackson will be back soon and that the team will adapt in his absence.
It was previously believed that Chelsea would only allow Felix to leave on a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy. However, they eventually agreed to a simple loan until the end of the season, with no obligation or option to buy. This decision was influenced by super-agent Jorge Mendes, who flew to London on deadline day to help facilitate the move.
Maresca addressed the issue of Felix's departure earlier in the week, stating that it was a difficult decision to make, but ultimately the best one for the team. He also mentioned that Felix never complained and remained professional throughout the process. The coach's main reason for allowing Felix to leave was to maintain a defensive balance, especially with so many attacking players on the team.
Interestingly, it has been revealed that Barcelona had the chance to sign Felix in January but turned it down, leading to his move to AC Milan. Felix, who is under contract with Chelsea until 2031, is a versatile attacker who can play as a second striker, centre-forward, or left winger. He has made a total of 40 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 11 goals and providing two assists.
Felix's performances have been particularly impressive in the UEFA Conference League this season, where he has scored four goals in five matches. He also scored two goals in Chelsea's 5-0 win over Morecambe in the FA Cup third round. Now, he is making a name for himself in Italy, having started in AC Milan's 2-0 Serie A win over Empoli and playing for 84 minutes.
AC Milan's head coach, Sergio Conceicao, is thrilled to have Felix on his team until the end of the season and has high expectations for him. The Portuguese international has already made an impact on the field and is expected to continue doing so in the future.
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