The Chelsea Chronicle has been exclusively told that Chelsea thought Joao Felix would be joining Benfica in a deal that would have favoured Bruno Lage’s side.
Benfica had been keen on re-signing the Chelsea forward, who left the Portuguese club for Atletico Madrid in 2019.
It had even been reported that the No.10 shirt was being left vacant for Felix. However, it now looks like that shirt will remain vacant or be given to another player, with the 25-year-old set for a move to Al-Nassr.
Felix has said yes to Al-Nassr, who have reportedly agreed on a fee with Chelsea to sign the player.
- READ MORE: Benfica think they’ve called Chelsea’s bluff after Blues set price to sell Joao Felix this summer
Chelsea were considering loaning Joao Felix to Benfica
It was reported that Chelsea had been blocking Felix from returning to Benfica, with the Club World Cup winners waiting to receive a better offer for the Portugal international.
Chelsea have now received that, but The Chelsea Chronicle‘s transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that they were starting to accept the possibility of Felix joining Benfica on a long-term loan deal before Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo jumped in.
“Chelsea were almost accepting that Felix would be heading to Benfica, and it was likely a long-term loan, possibly multiple seasons given the size of his contract which was due to run until 2031,” Bailey explained.
“But now Al-Nassr have stepped in with Cristiano Ronaldo pushing for his friend and international colleague to join him in the Pro League and he has got his wish.
“Now Chelsea are set to pocket around £40m which is a major bonus for them and only adds to their positive PSR levels.”
Towards the end of April, The Chelsea Chronicle was told that Ronaldo was already in Felix’s ear about a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The former Atletico star has listened to his Portugal teammate and is now set to link up with him at Al-Nassr.
Joao Felix set for Al-Nassr medical
Felix should be an Al-Nassr player very soon, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Chelsea outcast is now set to have a medical with the Saudi Arabian club.
Felix only managed to make 12 Premier League appearances during his second stint at Stamford Bridge, while his loan spell at AC Milan was not a success either.
Nevertheless, Chelsea are set to make a profit on Felix, which will give them a PSR boost. The Conference League holders have already sold Noni Madueke for £52m and Djordje Petrovic for £25m, which is more than what they paid for the two players.
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