Joao Felix (foto: Getty Images)
Benfica is ready to offer €20m to buy 50% of João Felix’s rights from Chelsea, with the player willing to take a pay cut to return to his boyhood club in Lisbon.
Benfica are preparing a bold move to re-sign Joao Felix, offering €20 million to Chelsea for 50% of the forward’s transfer rights, as reported by O Jogo.
Felix has reportedly agreed to take a pay cut in order to make the emotional return to Lisbon, where he rose to prominence under then-manager Bruno Lage, who is now back at the club.
With Benfica’s presidential elections approaching and two seasons without a league title, the club is eager to make a statement signing. They believe that bringing back their former star could help them replicate the success of their 2018-19 title-winning campaign.
After his record-breaking sale to Atletico Madrid in 2019, Felix failed to live up to expectations in La Liga. He was loaned to Chelsea, then Barcelona, before Chelsea signed him outright. However, he again struggled for form and was loaned to AC Milan in February.
Chelsea are open to offloading the 25-year-old but prefer a fee closer to the €53m they paid Atletico. Benfica hope to reach a compromise, banking on Chelsea’s need to trim their squad to meet financial requirements.
In addition to Felix, Benfica are reportedly closing in on a deal for Thiago Almada, currently with Botafogo. The Argentine spent part of last season on loan at Lyon, but financial instability at the French club has opened the door for Benfica to swoop in.