What constitutes a nightmare? Is it bloody horror? Losing your keys and being locked out of your house naked with the whole neighborhood watching. How about having massive expectations at a new job, having your boss and fans hate you, and being loaned out twice? This was João Félix’s experience at Atlético Madrid, and after five years, it’s finally over. On Wednesday, August 21st, João Félix signed for Chelsea FC.
João Félix in Madrid
It was not the fault of João Félix that Atlético Madrid spent 127 million Euros on Félix in 2019. At the time, he was 19 years old, had just scored 18 goals, and laid on eight assists for Portuguese club Benfica.
Atlético spent this mainly because they had 120 million euros burning a hole in their pocket. Barcelona had just activated the release clause for Antoine Griezmann. Therefore the deal for João Félix was easy, just activate his release clause with the Griezmann money.
What Atlético missed was that their manager, Diego Simeone, wasn’t too hot on João Félix. Simeone never plays young players with any consistency. Now, he was given a young player, and had to get him into his system.
In La Liga, João Félix never started more than 21 games for Atlético. Certainly, someone with his price tag would demand more game time.
Atlético Madrid made a boneheaded decision to sign João Félix in the first place. With a powerful agent by his side, Félix made a poor decision to join them, but he was 19.
Félix never got along with the fans or the manager, that is a recipe for disaster for any player. Then, add in injuries that led to a stop-and-start career at Atlético Madrid.
João Félix Time on Loan
During the five seasons João Félix spent in Madrid, one in a half were spent on loan for two clubs, Chelsea and Barcelona.
At Barcelona, Félix had 16 goal involvements in 44 games. Barcelona had a toxic situation at their club the whole season. Their manager, Xavi, resigned midway through the season, then was persuaded to stay only to be fired at the end of the season. All this led to a second-place finish and ten points off the leaders Real Madrid.
Despite decent stats, Félix only started three games for Barcelona from February 24th on. In those three starts, he scored three goals. Félix needs starts and time to cook off a striker. He’ll be able to finish off moves that the team creates by making smart runs into the box.
At Chelsea, Félix got off to a horrible start. He got a red card in his first game and was suspended for three games. He scored four goals in 11 starts for Chelsea. The club was in transition and went through two managers in six months.
Dysfunction in the club setting is a theme of Félix’s career. Chelsea had a bunch of players (and still does) and couldn’t settle on a manager or style of play.
João Félix and Chelsea..Part Two
Just like back in 2019, it’s unclear why a club is signing João Félix. Chelsea has too many players who play his position. Their manager has acknowledged that he doesn’t want to work with all these players.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s manager, has referenced Félix’s versatility as a key for Félix getting into the starting eleven.
The best-case scenario for Félix is that he plays just off the striker, in an attacking midfield role. The problem is that in the first game, Chelsea put Enzo Fernandez, who cost 120 million euros, in that position. Fernandez was mid, at best in that position against Manchester City. Félix would provide a bigger goal threat and be able to unlock the front three far more effectively than Fernandez.
Another factor with Félix at Chelsea is the striker position. Chelsea has two strikers on the team, one of whom is 18 years old. If Chelsea ends the transfer window with these guys, then Félix is likely to get a look in at striker. It’s not his natural position but with Cole Palmer on the right and either Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Angelo, or Christopher Nkunku on the left, Félix could thrive.
Yes, it will be hard for Félix to get game time at Chelsea, yes it will be hard for him to thrive out of position, and yes Chelsea has too many players and he could get lost in the shuffle. But you know what, just like Bruce Wayne believed in Harvey Dent to save Gotham in “The Dark Knight,” I believe in João Félix to save his career at Chelsea.
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Featured Image: Charlie Crowhurst/International Champions Cup/Getty Images
