{"id":7125,"date":"2025-07-24T09:20:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/?p=7125"},"modified":"2025-07-24T09:20:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:20:17","slug":"joao-felix-to-benfica-chelsea-outcast-nears-emotional-return-to-lisbon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/joao-felix-to-benfica-chelsea-outcast-nears-emotional-return-to-lisbon\/","title":{"rendered":"Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix to Benfica? Chelsea Outcast Nears Emotional Return to Lisbon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Benfica Open Talks to Re-Sign Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a dramatic twist to the summer transfer window, <strong>SL Benfica<\/strong> have opened direct negotiations with <strong>Chelsea FC<\/strong> to bring <strong>Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix<\/strong> back to the Est\u00e1dio da Luz. The Portuguese club is reportedly close to finalizing a deal that would see them acquire <strong>50% of F\u00e9lix\u2019s rights for \u20ac20\u201325 million<\/strong>, with an option to purchase the remainder in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>F\u00e9lix, currently on loan at <strong>AC Milan<\/strong>, has struggled to find consistency across multiple clubs. With <strong>Chelsea excluding him from their squad plans<\/strong> and Milan uninterested in a permanent deal, Benfica have seized the opportunity to reunite with their former prodigy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix: A Career of Highs, Lows, and Unfulfilled Potential<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Early Promise at Benfica<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"839\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-5.jpeg 638w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-5-228x300.jpeg 228w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-5-150x197.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-5-300x395.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Born <strong>November 10, 1999<\/strong>, in Viseu, Portugal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joined Benfica\u2019s youth academy in 2015 after stints at FC Porto and Padroense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Made senior debut in <strong>2018<\/strong>, scoring <strong>15 goals in 26 Primeira Liga matches<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helped Benfica win the <strong>2018\u201319 Primeira Liga title<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scored a historic <strong>Europa League hat-trick vs Eintracht Frankfurt<\/strong>, becoming the youngest player to do so<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Record-Breaking Move to Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Transferred to <strong>Atl\u00e9tico Madrid in 2019<\/strong> for \u20ac126 million \u2014 the <strong>fifth-highest fee in football history<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Won <strong>La Liga in 2020\u201321<\/strong>, but struggled under Diego Simeone\u2019s tactical system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Registered <strong>34 goals and 18 assists in 131 appearances<\/strong>, but never fully settled<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"736\" height=\"934\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1.jpeg 736w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1-236x300.jpeg 236w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1-150x190.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1-300x381.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-1-696x883.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Loan Spells and Chelsea Stint<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Club<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Appearances<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Goals<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Assists<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chelsea (loan + permanent)<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>11<\/td><td>2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Barcelona (loan)<\/td><td>44<\/td><td>10<\/td><td>6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>AC Milan (loan)<\/td><td>21<\/td><td>3<\/td><td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-576x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-169x300.jpeg 169w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-150x267.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-300x533.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4-696x1237.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-4.jpeg 736w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Joined Chelsea permanently in <strong>2024 for \u20ac52 million<\/strong>, but failed to impress manager Enzo Maresca<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loaned to AC Milan in January 2025, where he again underperformed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excluded from Chelsea\u2019s Club World Cup squad and stripped of his shirt number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Benfica\u2019s Vision: A Homecoming for F\u00e9lix<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Benfica president <strong>Rui Costa<\/strong> has long expressed interest in re-signing F\u00e9lix, citing his emotional connection to the club and potential to revive his career. The player himself has stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI feel that I need to be at home, and that is why Benfica is one of the ideas that I have in mind.\u201d \u2014 Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-3.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-3-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Joao-Felix-3-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Negotiations are ongoing with Chelsea and F\u00e9lix\u2019s agent <strong>Jorge Mendes<\/strong>, with the player reportedly willing to <strong>reduce his salary to \u20ac3 million annually<\/strong>, aligning with Benfica\u2019s wage structure<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;What\u2019s Next for Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the deal goes through, F\u00e9lix will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Return to the club where he first rose to prominence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reunite with former coach <strong>Bruno Lage<\/strong>, a key influence in his development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Become a central figure in Benfica\u2019s domestic and European ambitions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For Chelsea, the partial sale helps them comply with <strong>UEFA financial regulations<\/strong> while offloading a player who no longer fits their plans<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix\u2019s return to Benfica could be more than just a transfer\u2014it might be the redemption arc of a once generational talent. Would you like a tactical breakdown of how F\u00e9lix could fit into Benfica\u2019s current system next?.<br><strong><br><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh-m\">BangBet <\/a>isn\u2019t just a betting platform\u2014it\u2019s your ultimate winning partner! Enjoy the highest odds in the game, free bets, and cashback offers to keep you ahead. We reward you with lucrative bonuses and exclusive promos, while our expert predictions and betting guides help you make smarter wagers. But we go beyond just betting\u2014we care about your psychological welfare, offering counselling and tips to keep your mind in the game. At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/\">BangBet<\/a>, you don\u2019t just bet\u2014you win smarter, safer, and with unbeatable value! Join now and elevate your betting experience!<\/em><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.bangbet.androidgsavvggplay\">Bangbet <\/a>More Than Win!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;Benfica Open Talks to Re-Sign Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix In a dramatic twist to the summer transfer window, SL Benfica have opened direct negotiations with Chelsea FC to bring Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix back to the Est\u00e1dio da Luz. The Portuguese club is reportedly close to finalizing a deal that would see them acquire 50% of F\u00e9lix\u2019s rights for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[516,518,517,519],"class_list":{"0":"post-7125","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-news","8":"tag-joao-felix","9":"tag-joao-felix-to-benfica","10":"tag-joao-felix-transfer","11":"tag-joao-felix-transfer-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7125"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7135,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7125\/revisions\/7135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}