Chelsea will finally get their man. After a prolonged transfer saga involving Atletico Madrid’s unsettled forward Joao Felix, the Blues have agreed to pay the Spanish club around $11 million to take the former Benfica wonderkid on an initial loan until the end of the season, although no permanent transfer has been agreed.There has been interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, but Felix has chosen Chelsea, having been attracted by their project – and undoubtedly the big budget their American owner Todd Boehly is using to motivate players to come to Stamford Bridge.Joao Felix. Cold baller.. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Mr5VRMWJ26— Conn (@ConnCFC) January 9, 2023 If all goes to plan, the 23-year-old Portugal international will be followed into the west London club by more reinforcements this month. They are especially keen to revitalise their attack.Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin seemed resigned to letting Felix go last month.”The reasonable thing is to think Joao will leave. Although I would love him to stay, that is not the player’s idea.”The Athletic reported earlier this month that Atletico had been seeking a $22.5 million package, comprising a $16 million loan fee plus a $6.5 million gross salary. The Portuguese has five goals and three assists in 20 club appearances this season, having been used across the front line in various formations by head coach Diego Simeone.##NAJAVA_MECA_6929772##Felix started in a front two for Atletico on Sunday as they lost 1-0 at home to league leaders Barcelona. He was substituted after 73 minutes. After the match, Joao’s younger brother Hugo, also a footballer at Benfica, liked a post about Barcelona’s win. He has already made the news in Spain for liking Instagram posts and articles where Simeone was criticised for not giving enough minutes to Atleti’s number 7.In 2019 Felix joined Atletico from Benfica for €127.2 million, which remains the fourth-highest transfer fee in football history. Felix sees himself as a goalscoring number 10 – his boyhood hero was the Brazilian legend Kaka. Like the former Milan and Real Madrid star, Felix has a similar ability to create from deeper areas and get closer to goal and finish. He is excellent at carrying the ball forward, and can spot a pass in tight spaces. Every team in the world would welcome such a player – except Diego Simeone-managed Atletico.
