Joao Felix Expresses Desire To Return Home To Benfica Following Chelsea Challenges

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Joao Felix has expressed a strong desire to return to Benfica, his former club, after Chelsea made him available for transfer. "I want to go home," he stated. Felix began his career at Benfica before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a fee of 126 million euros. Despite his potential, he has struggled to consistently perform at the highest level.

Felix's time at Atletico Madrid saw him score only 20 goals in all competitions during the 2018-19 season with Benfica. Since then, he hasn't managed more than 10 goals in a single season for clubs like Atletico, Barcelona, Chelsea, or AC Milan. His initial move to Chelsea in 2024 cost 42 million pounds (52 million euros), following a loan spell there in the 2022-23 season.

The forward found limited playing time under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea and was subsequently loaned to AC Milan for the latter part of the 2024-25 season. During this period, he scored twice in 15 Serie A matches. Now aged 25, Felix is expected to leave Chelsea permanently soon. Last month, Benfica coach Bruno Lage confirmed the club's interest in bringing him back.

Returning to Portugal would likely require Felix to accept a significant pay cut. However, he is eager for a reunion with Lage, who played an important role in his development during his youth days at Benfica. Speaking about his future plans, Felix said: "I want to go home, my home is Benfica."

Felix continued by expressing his fondness for the club: "Benfica is my favourite club." He added that having Bruno Lage as coach again would be beneficial for his career and that returning would make him very happy. "That is probably where I am most inclined," he noted.

Benfica finished just two points behind Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP last season. They also topped their Club World Cup group which included Bayern Munich but were eliminated by Chelsea in the round of 16 after extra time.

Recent Performances and Future Prospects

In international play, Joao Felix was on the bench when Portugal defeated Spain on penalties last month to win the Nations League final for the second time. As Felix considers his next move, returning to Benfica seems like a fitting choice given his connection with the club and its coach.

The possibility of rejoining Benfica aligns with Felix's desire to feel at home again. This sentiment reflects both personal and professional motivations as he looks ahead to revitalising his career.