Joao Felix, the Portuguese prodigy, has the football world on tenterhooks as he dances on the tightrope of uncertainty regarding his future. The 23-year-old completed a loan move to Chelsea in the winter transfer window, seeking a change of scenery after a tough spell at Atletico Madrid. But the question remains, will he stay put in England or return to Spain?
Felix has been quoted as saying, “They don’t have a purchase option, they would have to reach an agreement with Atletico.” A wise man once said, “the future is like a foggy path in the forest, you never know what lies ahead.” And that’s exactly how Felix is feeling, as he gets settled in his new surroundings. He added, “I am very comfortable, but nobody knows the future.”
However, Felix’s future might be a little clearer if he makes a big impression in the Premier League. The Portuguese forward stated, “I’ve only been here a few weeks, a month. I am learning everything.” But with a three-match ban under his belt and a less than stellar debut, Felix has a steep hill to climb if he wants to convince Chelsea to make a permanent transfer.
Felix has had a tough time in Spain, with Atletico Madrid’s CEO, Miguel Angel Gil, breaking his arm for him. Felix has a good relationship with Gil and appreciates him letting him leave, as he was no longer feeling right. Gil sees Felix as a hope for Atletico, but as Felix himself said, “we’ll have to wait until June to see what happens.”
Felix has certainly landed in the right place, as he raves about life at Chelsea. He stated, “It is a great club, as we all know. The facilities are very, very good, they have everything. They have a lot of people around the team so that everything is fine and that makes the difference. It is very well structured.” And Felix was particularly impressed by Chelsea’s coach, Graham Potter, who called him into his office on one of his first days, talking about the game plan and explaining how the team plays. Felix is impressed by the coach’s personal touch, describing him as a “very good person and a great coach.”
With Felix back in the mix, Chelsea takes on London rivals West Ham on Saturday. It’s a chance for Felix to make a statement and prove to the football world that he’s here to stay. The Portuguese forward is walking a tightrope, but with a solid performance, he could be one step closer to securing his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
