Joao Felix reveals feelings on Chelsea stay and insists he 'doesn't regret' Atletico move

Joao Felix of Chelsea shoots the ball during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on January 12, 2023 in London, England.


Joao Felix has opened up on his Chelsea future – and whether he wants to return to Atletico Madrid.

On-loan Blues forward Felix will return to action against West Ham, having served a three-game suspension for a red card against Fulham.

That misdemeanour came on his debut in the west London derby, where he impressed straight out of the blocks, only for a star performance to be cut short.

The 23-year-old had just arrived from Atleti, on a six-month loan reportedly worth a whopping £11million.

That deal came without any further option to buy, although when Felix was asked about staying by AS, he far from dismissed it.

“You don’t have a purchase option,” he said. “They would have to reach an agreement with Atletico.

“I’ve only been here a few weeks, a month. I am knowing everything. I am very comfortable, but the future nobody knows.

“It is a great club, as we all know. The structures are very, very good, they have everything.

“We have a lot of people around the team so that everything is fine and that makes the difference. It is very well structured.”

Felix joined Atleti from Benfica for £113m in 2019, making him the fourth-most expensive player of all time, despite not even playing a full season in Portugal.

Since that move, he has won a LaLiga title, and became a regular for Portugal, but now leaving for Chelsea, he was asked if there were any regrets.

“No I don’t regret it,” he said. “It has been very good for me to leave Portugal, to evolve, to get to know new experiences, new players, new coaches, I don’t regret it because it has made me grow.

“That summer Atletico aroused a lot of interest in me and that was what made me sign for them.

“I really liked these three-and-a-half years that I was there. There have been good moments, others less good.

“We do not know if that stage is over. We’ll only find out in the summer, but I don’t regret having signed for Atleti.”

Since joining the Madrid side, there have been a number of flashpoints between Felix and manager Diego Simeone.

The Argentine boss appears closer to the exit door at the Metropolitano than ever, and when discussing his old club, Felix appeared keen to praise their CEO, but not so much the manager.

He said: “Contrary to what many people think, Migel [Angel Gil Martin, CEO] has always trusted me a lot, he has always broken his arm for me, I have a good relationship with him.

“I appreciate him letting me leave now because I needed it, I wasn’t right anymore. Miguel has always believed in me and I think he still does. He sees me as a hope for Atletico, but we’ll see…

“I don’t know what is going to happen in my life, nor is it known what will become of Cholo [Simeone], as I told you, we will have to wait until June.”

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