Joao Felix wanted to stay at Chelsea but Pochettino refused

Atletico Madrid are negotiating with Chelsea over the sale of Joao Felix in order to complete the signings of Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher. According to Fabrizio Romano, talks are entering their key moments with Jorge Mendes leading them in London. In the message he posted on his social networks to report this, he also commented that the Portuguese could have been wearing dark blue for more than a year already.

In the second half of the 2022-23 season, the Civitas Metropolitano outfit loaned him to Stamford Bridge in exchange for 11 million euros. The Portuguese experienced the sacking of Graham Potter, the arrival of Frank Lampard and, in general, a turbulent time in which he was unable to shine too much. Even so, he gained experience with several important matches in the Champions League and Premier League against big rivals.

In the summer of 2023, the Blues board intended to keep him and he was keen, but Mauricio Pochettino, who had been hired as manager for the 23-24 period, refused. The former Benfica man was not to his liking, although the reasons have not emerged. Nor is he particularly close to Cholo Simeone, who is also Argentinian and in charge of the 'Colchoneros', where the former Barcelona loanee has never quite succeeded.

The situation has changed because Enzo Maresca is currently the coach of the Londoners and everything suggests that he would welcome Joao Felix. For the moment, a contract signed until 30th June 2029 ties him to Atletico Madrid, who could do with getting rid of him for a figure that compensates, even if only in part, for the 127 million euros paid in the past for his arrival in the Spanish capital.

 

August 12, 2024