August 21st 2024.
Football pundit Paul Merson believes that Joao Felix's return to Chelsea will be a major success, despite the player's lackluster performance during his previous stint at the club. The Portuguese forward sealed his comeback to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £44.5million on Wednesday. This announcement came shortly after Conor Gallagher's move to the La Liga giants for £33m was finalized.
Felix's return has sparked mixed reactions, as he has shown glimpses of his talent but has struggled to consistently deliver on the pitch. This was evident during his short loan spell at Chelsea in the second half of the 2022/23 season, where he only managed to score four goals in 20 appearances and received a red card in his debut game. However, Merson, a Chelsea fan himself, seems unfazed by Felix's past struggles and took to Twitter to express his excitement about the signing.
"Hopefully Felix plays as well as he did before for us! Will be a big signing," Merson wrote, showing his confidence in the 24-year-old's abilities. Despite his low goal-scoring record, Merson believes that Felix's overall impact on the team will be significant.
There has been much discussion about where Felix will fit into the team, as Chelsea already has a surplus of forwards and attacking midfielders. Merson shared his opinion on the matter, saying, "Felix behind [Nicolas] Jackson, will create a lot of chances for Jackson which is what we need. [Cole] Palmer and [Christopher] Nkunku either side." However, this formation would mean that star player Palmer would have to play out of position on the right, and new signings Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke would miss out, along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea's new manager Enzo Maresca also hinted at his plans for Felix, stating that the player's versatility will be an asset to the team. "I think the good thing about Joao is he can play in different positions with us. He can play inside, he can play as a No.9, he can play outside. Pedro can play right winger, he can play left winger. Joao can play as an attacking midfielder, No.9, as a winger," Maresca said.
The team's hectic schedule and the need for rotation also play a role in Felix's potential role in the team. "And we have many games," Maresca added, emphasizing the importance of having a diverse squad. Chelsea fans can look forward to seeing Felix back in action on Sunday as the team takes on Wolves.
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