Chelsea’s Club World Cup rival plot ambitious move for outcast Joao Felix

Joao Felix joined Chelsea in a permanent deal in the summer but was loaned out to AC Milan in February and now Benfica are eyeing up a loan deal before the Club World Cup

Joao Felix could be set for a stunning return to Benfica in time for the Club World Cup. The Portugal international is currently on loan at AC Milan having failed to secure a starting spot in Enzo Maresca’s side after completing his Chelsea transfer in the summer.

Felix has failed to make his mark at the San Siro thus far and offered just one assist in Serie A since arriving in Italy earlier this year. The 25-year-old has produced eight goals in 33 appearances in all during 2024/25 with half of those coming in the Europa Conference League.

The forward’s indifferent form has not peturbed Benfica’s interest in facilitating a return for the player who started his professional career with the club. Felix departed Benfica in 2019 still a teenager when La Liga side Atletico Madrid agreed a mammoth £113million deal, amid interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Signing a seven-year deal, Felix became the fifth most expensive transfer of all-time. But the starlet has yet to live up to that billing despite showing flashes of his quality for Atletico, Chelsea and AC Milan.

Reports in Portugal claim that Benfica want to take Felix on loan despite his struggles, and would like to see their Club World Cup campaign boosted by his presence. It would make the third time Benfica have attempted to secure Felix’s return having failed to sign him in the two previous summers.

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The Club World Cup gets underway in June, and FIFA have opened the transfer window earlier to allow teams the opportunity to sign players in time for the tournament. Players will be permitted to register for the competition between June 1 and June 10 before a second period is open from June 27 and July 3, in time for the tournament’s knockout stage.

Benfica face Bayern Munich, Auckland City and Boca Juniors, but could face Chelsea later in the competition that kicks off on June 14. The Blues have been matched up with Esperance de Tunis and Flamengo, and await their third opponent after Club Leon were expelled.

Felix has already admitted that he plans to return to Benfica in his career. On an episode of Benfica Play in 2020, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, he said: “Now I see how happy I was at Benfica. I plan to return one day and leave my mark on the club.”

Former AC Milan and Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly believes that despite his talent, Felix has struggled to find the correct environment to flourish. The Frenchman reckons a move to Paris Saint-Germain may be the most suitable destination for him to realise his ability.

Speaking to Milan Presse , Desailly said, “Joao Felix is a player with great talent, but he has still not found his place. He’s been at Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and now Milan without making any real impact.

At this moment of his career, he needs a club with a clear philosophy that can build its project around him, put him at ease to express his potential that we still haven’t really seen. I would suggest Paris Saint-Germain.

“‘What Joao Felix lacks is not technique, but character. He is not a leader. At this moment, he is not what Milan need, because he lacks the mental strength to revive the Rossoneri. And vice versa.”

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