It's no longer a surprise to know that João Félix is on his way to becoming one of the biggest disappointments in European soccer in the last five years. The Portuguese, who was expected to be the successor to the Frenchman Antoine Griezmann at Atlético de Madrid, has been in free fall since his departure from the Metropolitano. He has already worn the jersey of two major clubs this season, and everything points to him having to find a new destination in the summer market.
Surely, the Portuguese is receiving the harshest criticism of his entire career since he arrived on loan at AC Milan, having played eight matches. He has only scored one goal as a Rossonero, which was in his debut against Roma, and the Italian team has reportedly made a decision about his future at the end of this season. For now, the main objective will be to reach the UEFA Champions League spots, as fighting for the title is almost impossible being nearly 20 points away.
João Félix Lives in a Loop
The complicated situation the Portuguese is experiencing in Italy is nothing new, as it has become a daily occurrence since his first departure from the red-and-white team. João Félix has not been able to convince during his loan spells at Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona, although he would return to Stamford Bridge last summer permanently. His best level has been seen in the Conference League, and in the winter market, he changed scenery again to try his luck at a historic club like AC Milan.
His first eight matches couldn't have been worse, being eliminated from the Champions League by Feyenoord and scoring only one goal. He is on a negative streak of three consecutive defeats, and the criticism has been relentless in recent weeks, even with a definitive decision. According to several media outlets, the Portuguese international will return to Chelsea in the summer, as there is no intention to finalize his move to Serie A.
Simeone's Warning
When the relationship between them was practically broken, the Argentine coach always warned that his intention was to improve João Félix every day. To this day, his best level has only been seen at Atlético de Madrid, where he won the LaLiga title and achieved his best scoring records. João Félix always stated that he was looking for a playing style that better suited his needs, but he has never been able to find it.
Barring a surprise, the Portuguese will have to make a sacrifice and find a lower-level club where he can feel more prominent and improve his performance. It won't be easy, as his recent failures in Europe make the most relevant clubs show no interest in signing him. For now, in London, they will have to make a decision in the summer market to try to find an exit that is positive for everyone.