Ni in Atlético, nor in Barcelona, nor in Portugal, nor (again) in Chelsea. . . . Not with Simeone, not with Graham Potter, not with Lampard, not with Xavi, not with Fernando Santos, not with Roberto Martinez… not with Maresca. Joao Félix Sequeira (Viseu, 1999) does not find his place in the world of football.
The Portuguese once again pointed out that playing for the culé club is a dream come true
“When we arrive at the club, there are values such as commitment, humility, respect… Until the last day we have to give it from wherever we are. “No one, but no one, but no one is above Atlético,” it ‘ugly’ him Simeone the most expensive signing (127 million) in the club’s history shortly before leave on loan to Barcelona a year ago.
There are values like commitment, humility, respect… Nobody, but nobody, but nobody is above Atlético
In Barcelona it started off ‘sweet’. He scored three goals and distributed two assists in his first four games and, shortly after, he noted the winning goal against Atlético (1-0). “I needed a change of scenery. We all see how Barça plays and how Atleti plays. I adapt better to this,” boasted Joao Félix.
I needed a change of scenery. We all see how Barça plays and how Atleti plays
Little by little, the former Benfica player lost his place in Xavi Hernández’s eleven. He scored 10 goals and provided six assists, but was a substitute in 20 of the 44 games he played for Barça… and in 21 he was replaced.
In this case, they competed to see who could best decorate a Christmas tree in just 90 seconds.
Back to Stamford Bridge (transferred)
His idea, despite everything, was to continue at Barcelona… but he had to return to Atlético to return to go out. This time, definitely. Chelsea -He already played on loan at Stamford Bridge for the second half of 2022-23- He paid 50 million, plus 10 in variables, to get your token. “The best years are yet to come, I am ready to make Chelsea my home,” the Portuguese promised in his presentation.
The best years are yet to come, I am ready to make Chelsea my home
His thing was to arrive and kiss the saint. He came out in the 66th minute and scored in his (re)debutwith Wolverhampton (2-6). He scored again from a free kick and assisted, in the League Cup,against Barrow (5-0). History, however, has repeated itself: The ‘Joao effect’ has been diluted like soda: Of the last three Premier games, he has been left without playing in two.
Joao Félix celebrates a goal with Pedro Neto.
The data, always cold, is terrifying. Joao Félix plays less… than with Simeone. In fact, it is the season in which he has had the fewest minutes in the League (118′) since he signed for Atlético in 2019. Only in 2021-22-he missed the first three days due to injury- He played a similar number of minutes (121).
Joao Félix’s numbers after the first eight days
- Atlético (2019-20) –> 4 games (1 as a starter). 604 minutes: two goals and one assist.
- Atlético (2020-21) –> 8 games (8 as a starter). 568 minutes: three goals and two assists.
- Atlético (2021-22) –> 3 games (1 as a starter). 121 minutes: 0 goals and 0 assists.
- Atlético (2022-23) –> 8 games (5 as a starter). 434 minutes: 0 goals and three assists.
- Barcelona (2023-24) –> 5 games (4 as a starter). 299 minutes. 1 goal and an assist.
- Chelsea (2024-25) –> 5 games (0 as a starter). 118 minutes: 1 goal and zero assists.
“I have nothing bad to say about Joao”
Far from ‘lowering your arms’, João Felix took advantage of the press conference prior to the Conference match against Panathinaikos -aims for starter- to claim: “You will never see me stop working to achieve my dreams. It’s just a matter of time, I know the value I have and I trust myself more than anyone. One day my time will come.”
It’s just a matter of time, I know the value I have and I trust myself more than anyone. One day my time will come
Now all that’s left is for Maresca to put him on. The ‘blue’ coach, at least behind closed doors, seems to trust him: “Since he arrived, he has been doing fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about Joao. On the contrary. “He must continue working as before and hopefully soon we can give him more opportunities and minutes.” There is ‘Joao Félix case’. And it seems that, once again, it is going for a long time.
