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Al-Nassr close to hijacking Benfica move for Joao Felix

Chelsea attacker Joao Felix is expected to complete a permanent move away from the club this summer, and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr are now closing in on him.

Initially, there were rumours that Joao Felix could return to his former club Benfica. However, reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that big-spending Saudi outfit Al-Nassr are in advanced talks to secure his services.

Chelsea re-signed Felix for £45 million last summer, but he was a backup figure in the first half of the 2024/25 season. In addition, the loan move to AC Milan was dreadful. So, the Chelsea flop needs a fresh start, and he will look to get his career back on track with regular football next season.

Chelsea will not be able to provide him with those opportunities, and leaving the West London club would be ideal. While recent reports suggested a return to SL Benfica was on the cards and preferable, Al-Nassr have swooped in this week.

Benfica will be thoroughly disappointed with the situation, but they simply cannot match up with the Saudi clubs financially. It will be interesting to see if Joao Felix can hit the ground running in the Saudi Pro League and establish himself as a key player for the club.

Joao Felix would be a quality addition

There is no doubt that the 25-year-old attacker is a tremendous talent with a bright future, and he could be an asset for Al-Nassr. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be hoping to use the proceeds from his departure to improve their squad.

The Blues have been very active in the transfer market, and they have improved their attacking unit so far. However, they should look to invest in the defence as well. Enzo Maresca’s team were quite vulnerable at the back, and signing a quality central defender could prove to be vital for them.

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can plug the weaknesses in their squad during the summer transfer window. They will be hoping to fight for major trophies, and they need to bridge the gap with the top clubs by bringing in quality players.

Felix is currently 25, and staying in Europe would have been ideal for him at this stage of his career. However, Chelsea are likely to sell to the highest bidder, and it will be difficult for clubs like Benfica to outbid Saudi Arabian clubs. It will be interesting to see if the Portuguese international returns to Europe in the future.

The move to Saudi Arabia could bring out the best in the £45 million Chelsea flop. Felix will be able to play without too much pressure, and it could help him rediscover his form and confidence.

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