Although Benfica were struggling to agree on a fee with Chelsea to sign Joao Felix this summer, at one stage, everything was pointing towards the forward joining them.
There was a shortage of suitors for Felix, making a return to the Portuguese club seem inevitable.
It was even reported that Benfica believed they would become the only option for Felix during this transfer window.
However, Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr swooped in and made offers to Chelsea and Felix that could not be refused.
Chelsea forward Joao Felix to earn £15m a year at Al-Nassr
Chelsea are set to make a profit on Felix, while the player himself will earn big money once his move to Al-Nassr goes through.
According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, the Saudi Arabian club will be paying the 25-year-old €17.5m (£15m) a year.
Their report claims that number is five times more than what Benfica were offering to their former player.
It is not a shock, then, that Felix has decided to join Al-Nassr, rather than wait for Benfica to strike some sort of agreement with Chelsea over a transfer.
Felix is only expected to sign a two-year contract, though, so he may not be in Saudi Arabia for too long. Whatever the case, Benfica will be disappointed with the Portugal international, especially club president Rui Costa.
Rui Costa will be disappointed with Joao Felix
Costa was going to make Felix’s homecoming a very special one. It was even said that Costa had reserved the No.10 shirt for Felix.
It is a very famous jersey at Benfica, with the late Eusebio and Costa himself donning it back in the day.
However, it will go to someone else now or stay vacant after Felix’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia. Costa and some quarters of Benfica will feel that their former player is only thinking about money, but they took too long to agree a deal with Chelsea.
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