PETE JENSON: Chelsea’s go for Joao Felix usually means they have either grabbed a single of the very best youthful players in the environment ruined by adverse Diego Simeone – or a massively in excess of-rated sulk… but the £113m guy Should really perform improved less than Graham Potter
Chelsea attained a verbal settlement to indicator Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix on loanFelix, who joined Atletico for £114m in 2019, will sign until the finish of the season The Portuguese international has fallen out of favour with manager Diego SimeoneSupporters of Felix declare that the supervisor has failed to create the younger starBut some others declare the 23-calendar year-previous forward is merely a sulk in the dressing room
There are two theories about Joao Felix, the 23-calendar year-aged Portuguese worldwide who Chelsea are signing on personal loan right up until the close of the period.
One suggests he’s every inch the €127million (£113m) participant Jorge Mendes encouraged them to indication in 2019. The other is that he is a sulk – as well immature to make it in any crew that would not give him just the function he needs.
The only way to discover out which concept is right is to consider Diego Simeone out of the equation, and this brief phrase personal loan to Chelsea does particularly that.
Only time will notify no matter whether Chelsea’s bank loan move for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix will pay off
Chelsea reached a verbal settlement on Monday to indicator the out-of-favour 23-yr-outdated on bank loan
It truly is the Atletico Madrid coach who Felix’s supporters say has completely failed to acquire the younger talent.
Graham Potter’s dealing with of his new signing’s immense organic capacity will present whether or not the conservative Argentinian was the issue all together, or no matter if Atletico Madrid were bought limited four decades ago when they broke their transfer report for a participant who experienced only begun 21 online games in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Simeone believes Felix has failed to increase-up in his three and a 50 percent seasons at Atletico Madrid. The participant himself thinks Atletico have misused him. Each have a place.
Felix was eager for a go absent from Atletico right after slipping out-of-favour with Diego Simeone
Felix is a participant who has to be dealt with otherwise. Simeone does not believe that in managing anyone in another way. He requires that all his players utilize them selves in different devices in an assortment of roles, putting apart private gains for the advantage of the group.
Players typically have to improve position quite a few instances all through matches. And he believes in a hierarchy in which no one particular has the right to get speedy-tracked to revered dressing home leader position.
Felix does not in good shape the Simeone soldier template. He does not want to be positionally flexible. He wishes to engage in where he believes he operates finest, powering a striker, and ideally functioning in a central place – arriving there if not starting off there.
He has demanded the status of a document signing from working day 1 and not recognized why he has not gained it. And Simeone’s reluctance to play him behind Alvaro Morata and alongside Antoine Griezmann exactly where he might properly have thrived has worn down his endurance.
The Portuguese international will hope to impress Graham Potter immediately after a torrid spell in Madrid
In the first activity again soon after the winter season split that is precisely how Atletico Madrid played with Felix outstanding scoring in a 2- acquire.
But in the upcoming game Barcelona were being the opponents and Simeone deserted his 3-4-2-1 – with Felix alongside Griezmann and powering Morata – to participate in a 4-4-2 in which Felix invested 73 minutes bumping off of Barça’s centre-backs in advance of he was taken off.
If Potter performs him in a 4-3-3 where by he executed nicely ample for Portugal in Qatar, he will have to be provided equivalent liberty to drift in field as presented him by Fernando Santos.
A handful of Atletico lovers experience Felix is continue to a top-course expertise and has been misused by Simeone
He undoubtedly is not an orthodox winger hugging the touchline. And neither is he a central striker equipped to participate in with his back to objective. The point that Chelsea really don’t appear to have any one who can do that task is a issue, with or without Felix.
The Portuguese’s posture is critical but it is really not every thing. Simeone favours waiting for groups to occur on to his Atletico facet and hitting them on the split. That leaves forwards a prolonged way from purpose.
Not for practically nothing have Barcelona 2 times experimented with to sign Felix – Xavi’s choice for participating in closer to the opposition’s aim would match the participant considerably a lot more. He ought to be happier enjoying for Potter than for Simone.
Other individuals merely believe that the forward, who joined Atletico for £113m in 2019, is an in excess of-rated sulk
And that points to the a single matter that is definitely in Chelsea’s favour – Joao Felix will feel a feeling of aid stepping absent from Simeone and from some of Atletico Madrid’s senior players who have developed drained of his rather apparent drive to depart.
They did not like his withdrawal from two modern early-round cup game titles only to then be out there for crucial league matches possibly.
For Felix a move to London will be like a person taking the weights out of his pockets. He’ll be coming up for air with a new mentor who would like to get the very best out of him and kindred spirit gamers about him.
Felix was filmed leaving Atletico Madrid’s training ground on Monday in advance of his personal loan shift
The way Atletico Madrid see it: that new lease of daily life will possibly see him locate his form again which means his sector price tag recovers or he will study that the grass absent from Simeone is not generally greener.
Everyday living at Chelsea was challenging for other Atletico wantaways: Saul, Morata and Felipe Luis, and they all returned with a renewed determination to producing it get the job done in Spain.
There is another state of affairs of training course. Joao Felix tears it up at Chelsea and back again in Spain Atletico are unsuccessful to make the Champions League. That will make Todd Boehly want to signal him permanently and it could also imply the finish of Simeone at Atletico.
