Joao Felix sends cryptic Chelsea transfer hint as made clear
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Joao Felix has left Chelsea fans guessing about his future with a cryptic message on social media following the end of his loan spell at the club. The 23-year-old, who returned to Atletico Madrid after his loan stint, faces an uncertain future.
During his five-month tenure in London, Felix scored four goals but had a mixed performance overall. Despite a promising start, his impact was limited after receiving a straight red card in his debut against Fulham.
Signed to bolster Chelsea’s Champions League campaign, Felix failed to find the back of the net in any of the four knockout matches he played. He did encounter some bad luck, hitting the woodwork three times in those games. His £11 million loan fee came under scrutiny, particularly as he was suspended for three games and his inclusion in the squad meant exclusion for Benoit Badiashile. Nonetheless, no other player in the team scored more goals than him during his loan spell, although this highlights the overall struggles of the club rather than his exceptional form.
In terms of goals per 90 minutes, Felix outperformed every other Chelsea player, with his expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes being the same. However, his contribution in terms of creating goals was lacking, as he registered no assists and had only 0.5 expected assists (xA) in 16 matches, 11 of which were starts, and a total of 941 minutes played.
Chelsea’s expected goals increased when Felix was on the field compared to any other player, and the xG differential was also in his favor. N’Golo Kante was the only player who had a better xG per 90 minutes than Felix. These statistics will be taken into consideration as the summer transfer window approaches, and Felix could potentially be on the move once again.
Atletico Madrid is keen to recoup a substantial portion of the £111 million they paid Benfica for Felix’s services in 2019, but his recent form does not justify that price tag. It is unlikely that Chelsea will sanction such a deal. Another loan move could be a possibility, but Felix reportedly desires Champions League football next season, something that Chelsea cannot offer at the moment.
Mauricio Pochettino’s stance on Felix is also a factor to consider. If Atletico Madrid decides to part ways with Diego Simeone, a return to Spain may become more appealing for Felix.
Although Felix’s performances may not have been consistently exceptional, his flashes of skill and quality demonstrated his unique abilities. His attitude has also been commendable, as he showed a clear desire to bring success to the club.
Felix’s recent social media activity further adds to the speculation surrounding his future. He posted a series of images on Instagram, expressing frustration over missed opportunities in the game against Newcastle. The final post, featuring an image of Stamford Bridge taken from the pitch, lacked a caption, leaving fans uncertain about Felix’s intentions. After displaying frustration and disappointment, the post could reflect his regret at not exiting the club in the manner he had hoped for.
