Joao Felix has opened up on his decision to leave Chelsea and sign for AC Milan in the January transfer window, admitting that he was eyeing up the club prior to his move
Joao Felix has revealed that he was so keen on joining AC Milan that he told his agent to do “everything possible” to secure the move in January.
Chelsea’s exuberant recruitment drive last summer may have turned some heads but it was perhaps Felix’s return to Stamford Bridge that was the most shocking of all.
The Portuguese star signed a seven-year contract when he rejoined the Blues on a £45million permanent deal in August 2024. This came after an initial, and largely forgettable, loan spell at Stamford Bridge during the second half of the 2022-23 season.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Felix has now claimed he is delighted with how his move to Milan is going, stating that he had been keeping a watchful eye on the club before heading to Italy, with the club representing one of Europe’s ‘elite’.
“Before I got the offer, I watched Milan games and thought ‘I’d like to play in that shirt’,” he said. “Then, when the offer came in, everything became very easy: I told my agent [Jorge Mendes] to do everything possible to reach the deal, and it went well.
“Along with Barcelona, Real Madrid and a few others, Milan are among the elite of the most important clubs in the world. Wearing this shirt is different to wearing others. And when Milan comes calling, it’s hard to say no.”
Felix played 20 times this season for Chelsea, but breaking into manager Enzo Maresca’s starting XI proved difficult. Despite netting seven goals, providing two assists, and shining during their Europa Conference League run, it was decided he did not fit into the Italian’s plans, reports Football London.
However, Maresca made it clear that letting the player move to Milan was strictly down to footballing reasons. “Nothing happened,” Maresca said.
“Players train everyday and want to play all the games. But just 11 are playing. We decided altogether that it was a good option to leave. He never complained.
“He has been very good with us,” he added. “Just a matter of my decision. The reason why, we need defensive balance. When you have so many attacking players, you can concede and I don’t like that.”
Although Felix’s winter switch didn’t manage to change Milan’s challenging season, with Champions League spots now beyond their grasp, his attention remains firmly on contributing to the Serie A side.
“That was the club’s goal [Champions League qualification]. Unfortunately, fourth place is a long way off and we probably won’t achieve it, but we have to do our best in the last four league games and, above all, win the Italian Cup.
“We all want to end this season on a high note. The Europa League? It’s a goal to achieve because Milan has to play in Europe.”
Felix has found it challenging to meet the expectations set for him since his impressive performances at Benfica led to a £113m transfer to Atletico Madrid in July 2019, a deal that was then the fifth-most expensive in history.
Following his high-profile move, he has primarily been loaned out, playing for the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Milan.
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