Despite Chelsea’s starting XI leaving very few impressed at the weekend, one of the first questions aimed at manager Enzo Maresca was about a player who had just played in a completely different country.
Joao Felix departed Chelsea on deadline day, making a loan move to AC Milan after just six months at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca explained that he wasn’t missing Felix, despite the Blues crying out for creativity in their FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Joao Felix keen to stay at AC Milan after loan from Chelsea
Chelsea fans could only watch in jealousy as Felix starred on his debut for Milan, finding the net just minutes into his first start.
After not getting the minutes he would have liked in West London, it was clear that he was open to moving on in order to get them.
The Portugal international was asked in his first Milan press conference about his future, and he stated to Milan News that he was keen to stay at the Serie A club after his loan comes to an end.
He said: “For now I’m on loan, until June. Let’s see how it goes. For the moment I’m really liking everything: the club, the people, the infrastructure. I’ve been welcomed very well, both me and my family.
“I feel good here, but we know that in football things can change quickly. But if there was the possibility of staying at Milan I would like to.
“In every club, I had the expectation of playing at my best, but if things don’t go well it’s important to persevere.”
Do AC Milan want to sign Joao Felix?
By all accounts, Milan are very happy with their acquisition in January, and would like to make it a permanent purchase.
Reports even claimed they would be willing to offer either Fikayo Tomori or Rafael Leao in exchange for Felix, with the price tag Chelsea are expected to set going to be high.
Questions will certainly be asked of those upstairs at Stamford Bridge of the decision to bring him in permanently in the first place. A large fee was paid for just six months of irregular action.
Maresca has been left to try and find a solution with what he has got to fill the void. The boss has already promised more minutes for Christopher Nkunku in the second half of the season.
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