- 12 hours ago
Joao Felix issues BOLD Chelsea statement
Cameron Smith
- 19 Nov 2024 20:00 GMT
- 3 min read
Joao Felix has informed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca that he will “perform best” in Cole Palmer’s preferred position.
Felix re-joined Chelsea on a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid for €52 million in August, having spent time on loan at Stamford Bridge in 2023, but he is yet to start a Premier League match so far this season.
The Portugal international has racked up just 117 minutes of action in the English top flight since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign, while he has been an unused substitute in each of Chelsea’s last four league fixtures.
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Felix has four goals and one assist across five appearances in the Europa Conference League and the Carabao Cup this term, but he is aiming to become a more influential figure at Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
However, Felix is behind the aforementioned Palmer in the Chelsea pecking order and the ex-Benfica wonderkid has admitted that he wants to play in the same position as the England international.
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What has Joao Felix said?
Following an immense performance during Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Croatia on Monday, in which he scored his ninth international goal, Felix told Sport TV: “I think where I can perform best is in the central area of the pitch, something I haven’t played in the last four years.
“Whether as a false nine, a No.10, a second striker, I think that’s where I can help the team the most, where I can contribute the most to the game and I think you could see that in the first half.”
Current ETV
João Félix
F (L)
Chelsea
João Félix
F (L)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€33.3M - €55.5M
Felix was mostly used as a left winger during his season-long loan spell at Barcelona last year, but he was frequently deployed in a front two at Atletico Madrid.
However, with Enzo Maresca favouring Nicolas Jackson in a traditional centre forward role, Felix is extremely unlikely to be deployed in a false nine or second striker position, meaning he is vying with Palmer for a spot in Chelsea’s preferred starting XI.
