First they took away his favourite jersey. Then he angrily cast off his training bib. The rupture of the relationship between Joao Felix and Atletico Madrid – the club who not so long ago made him the costliest player in their history – is being vividly enacted through garments and gestures. Soon enough, there will be frosty words.
The Portuguese playmaker arrived at pre-season training with Atletico this week making clear his intention to be somewhere else as soon as possible.
It will not be West London, where he spent most of 2023 on loan at Chelsea, part of a fleet of young new year recruits at Stamford Bridge. He was the superstar among them but conspicuous because the deal that took him there was only as a loanee, on a costly six-month deal.
Joao Felix, 23, thought it would be a stepping stone to something more permanent. Almost immediately, the plan hit a snag. In the 58th minute of an otherwise promising first outing in the Premier League, a derby at Fulham, he received the first direct red card of his senior career.
That looked like an unfortunate footnote at the time, evidence of a footballer pushing too hard, too aggressively at the beginning of his audition. But once his loan was coming to an end and Chelsea had sacked a second manager of a disastrous season, there were strong hints that Joao Felix was not the right fit, and not even applying himself vigorously enough.
“He has to have the work ethic, the team nature about him,” said Frank Lampard, the caretaker who oversaw the limp end of Chelsea’s chaotic campaign, explaining why he tended to put Joao Felix on the substitutes’ bench as often as in the starting XI.
Back at Atletico, Chelsea having made it clear they would not be extending their interest in the player under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, Joao Felix has endured further snubs.
Chelsea 2022/23 season ratings
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CHELSEA 2022/23 SEASON RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6. After starting the season on the bench, he made the No 1 jersey his own with an excellent run of form. Performances tailed off as Chelsea's season unravelled, and while Kepa didn't do much wrong, he hardly saved his team either. Getty. -
Edouard Mendy - 5. A shaky start to the season saw Mendy dropped to the bench, while a long-term shoulder injury prevented the Senegalese stopper from trying to reclaim his place. Returned to the squad in April and hardly to blame for Chelsea's demise. Getty -
Trevoh Chalobah - 6. Effort and dedication can't be faulted but the Academy graduate looked out of his depth at times. Should be used as a reliable squad player next season. Getty -
Kalidou Koulibaly - 5. The Senegalese defender veered from commanding to comical - sometimes in the same game. Whether this was a first-season adjustment period or if Koulibaly is on the decline, it will be interesting to see if we get to find out or if the former Napoli star will depart. Getty -
Benoit Badiashile - 7. The 22-year-old January signing looked good in the appearances he was afforded, and should be given a much bigger role next season. Reuters -
Wesley Fofana - 5. Arrived with a massive price tag and to huge excitement last summer, the French defender's season was one blighted by injury. When Fofana returned to the team, he looked off the pace and struggled for form. One of many players who should benefit from a reset ahead of the new season. Getty -
Thiago Silva - 7. At 39 years old, the Brazilian is still Chelsea's best central defender. Called upon to play more games than was probably initially planned as the season unravelled. Still classy but it became increasingly clear he's now best in the middle of a back three. Will be a huge leader next season as Chelsea attempt to pick up the pieces. Getty -
Marc Cucurella - 3. The poster boy for Chelsea's reckless and thoughtless transfer strategy. The Spanish fullback can't be accused of a lack of effort but looked well short of the £60m the Blues paid Brighton for his services. Expected to leave in a cut-price deal this summer. Reuters -
Ben Chilwell - 6. A season severely disrupted by injury, Chilwell's various absences hit Chelsea hard. Ended the season with another injury, and will hope to fully recover to hit the ground running after the summer. AFP -
Lewis Hall - 7. The youngster's emergence was both a promising sign for Chelsea's future and symbolic of a disastrous transfer policy that saw Cucurella signed for £60m when Hall proved to be more than capable at left-back. Full of energy and enthusiasm and impactful going forward. Work to do defensively but he's only 18. Getty -
Reece James - 6. Limited to just 24 appearances in all competitions, James' worrying injury record extended into another season. No coincidence that Chelsea's alarming slump began when he was first sidelined. Getty -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 5. As committed and professional as ever but respectfully, the captain's legs went this season. Sustained a nasty concussion which did not help his cause. If he remains beyond the summer, the Spaniard should be used very much as a dressing room influence. Reuters -
Enzo Fernandez - 7. The Argentine midfielder arrived in January fresh off a World Cup triumph and with a reputation as one of the brightest stars in world football. Showed moments of quality during a difficult spell for Chelsea, and will be a major player next season. Reuters -
N'Golo Kante - 6. Another important player hit by injury for much of the season, the French midfielder's quality and energy were sorely missed. Typically lively when he made his return to the team. His future needs to be resolved. Getty -
Denis Zakaria - 5. On loan from Juventus, the Swiss midfielder was not really part of any of the three managers' plans this season, although did OK when given games. EPA -
Conor Gallagher - 7. Endured a disastrous start to the season but improved as the campaign wore on when he was given more game time. Provided plenty of energy and was a greater goal threat than many of Chelsea's forward players. With the likes of Kante and Kovacic - and even Mount - potentially leaving, Gallagher could have a key role next season. EPA -
Mateo Kovacic - 6. The Croatian has been superb throughout his Chelsea career but there was a noticeable drop off this season. Still helped the Blues control possession for most games but the cut and thrust that make Kovacic such an influential midfielder were not quite at the same level. Big question marks about his future. EPA -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5. Very much a squad player who struggled to make his mark this season. The Academy graduate is reportedly the subject of interest from AC Milan and could be part of the expected mass exodus. AFP -
Carney Chukwuemeka - 6. The teenager signed from Aston Villa last summer was limited in his appearances but looks an exciting talent. AFP -
Mason Mount - 4. Having emerged as arguably Chelsea's best player the previous two seasons, this was a significant setback. Injuries played a part but three goals in 35 appearances was hugely disappointing. Confidence looked shot by the time his campaign ended prematurely. Despite the poor season, Chelsea will hope to resolve his future to prevent a potentially damaging move to a rival. PA -
Kai Havertz - 6. Chelsea's leading goalscorer this season but with nine in all competitions, that isn't saying much. The German is an outrageously talented player but was again the victim of Chelsea's failure to sign a recognised striker. Will the next manager finally play Havertz at No 10 before it's too late and he leaves? Reuters -
Mykhaylo Mudryk - 5. After Chelsea beat Arsenal to the Ukrainian's signature and he enjoyed a blistering cameo, the hype only increased. That's about as good as it got for Mudryk in his first half season. Blessed with extreme pace but still a raw talent, Mudryk should kick on next season. Getty -
Christian Pulisic - 4. A knee injury hardly helped but the American was ineffective before and after. A single goal in 29 appearances is nowhere near good enough. Could be another to exit Stamford Bridge this summer. AFP -
Raheem Sterling - 4. Signed as an oven-ready solution to help solve Chelsea's goalscoring woes, Sterling was a shadow of the prolific Manchester City player. Scored nine goals in 37 appearances and generally posed little threat when on the ball. Can still be an important player next season. Getty -
Noni Madueke - 7. Part of the mad January transfer splurge, Madueke is another exciting young talent who showed glimpses of his potential. Should contribute plenty more next season. PA -
Hakim Ziyech - 5. Became a peripheral player and almost left on loan to PSG in January, only for the classic fax machine mishap to occur. The Moroccan, who was superb at the World Cup, is a talented player but it's not quite happened at Chelsea. Surely on the move. PA -
Joao Felix - 8. A rare bright spark in a bleak season for Chelsea, despite getting sent off on his debut and his loan fee hardly making financial sense. It was a scandal that Felix wasn't a regular starter during Lampard's brief, and disastrous, spell in charge as the Portuguese was the one attacking player who consistently created chances and scored a few goals. Unlikely to remain beyond this season. AFP -
Armando Broja - 5. The Academy graduate loooked like he could have been a useful squad option but his season was cut short after a cruciate injury during a mid-season friendly in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
David Datro Fofana - 6. A lively debut, after arriving in January, raised hopes Chelsea might have a exciting new striker on their hands. Except he barely played after that. Looks a talent, though. PA -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 2. A return of three goals in 22 appearances marked a miserable return to the Premier League for the former Arsenal captain. Shot of confidence and sharpness, Aubameyang appears destined for the exit. EPA -
Thomas Tuchel - 6. Oversaw the opening weeks of the season when Chelsea struggled for form. Still, his exit was an enormous shock and the season continued to unravel from there. Has since pitched up at Bayern Munich and won the Budesliga. EPA -
Graham Potter - 3. Perhaps it was the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, but Potter hardly helped his cause either. After an encouraging start, quickly looked out of his depth when results went south, and was sacked after winning just 12 of his 31 games in charge. Reuters -
Frank Lampard - 1. Granted, he inherited a mess but the return of Chelsea's greatest player to the dugout failed to inspire a turnaround. Lost his first six matches in interim charge, his team selection was muddled, and he admitted himself he didn't know how or where to play Joao Felix, so he didn't. Which is unforgivable. Where Lampard goes from here is anyone's guess. Getty
His number seven shirt, the one he chose and was presented with at a lavish unveiling – the show included a segment at Madrid’s Prado museum – following his €126m signing from Benfica in 2019, has been reassigned to Antoine Griezmann.
Some of his practice sessions this week have had him marginalised, training among youth-team players. Finishing one of his drills on Tuesday, he took off his training bib and hurled it on to the turf in full sight of television cameras.
Signs of discord between the former prodigy and Atletico are not new. The loan to Chelsea marked a turning point in the breakdown of the relationship between Joao Felix and Diego Simeone, the long-serving Atletico coach.
He had been left out of the starting line-up as often as he was in it through the first half of last season at Atletico. Once he was in London, he made pointed remarks about Atletico’s trademark style under Simeone, with its emphasis on counter-attack and a willingness to concede possession to opponents.
The artist who had been unveiled at the Prado, Spain’s treasury of great paintings, told the newspaper as he had warmed to Chelsea’s then manager Graham Potter’s desire to “keep the ball, control the play, and attack”.
He added that Simeone preferred “endurance on the pitch, soaking up pressure. It’s different from other coaches”.
Those comments, made in February, now carry an awkward echo. Simeone, into his 12th year coaching Atletico, would enjoy a far better 2023 than Potter, who was sacked in April, or Lampard. As Chelsea plummeted towards the bottom half of the Premier League table, a resurgent Atletico launched a run of nine wins out of 10 games, finishing a comfortable third in the final La Liga table.
For Joao Felix, there would be no fresh start in England, no compelling numbers to persuade Chelsea they should prolong his stay. He played 20 times for Chelsea in the second half of the season, scored four goals and contributed no assists. He had played 20 games for his parent club in the opening months of 2022/23, scored five times and made three assists.
All of which leaves him in an anxious limbo, at an age where he should be peaking, looking forward to a leading role for Portugal in next summer’s European Championship. He has four years left on his Atletico contract, and the club, having paid so much to acquire him four summers ago, will not accept offers that show a significant loss on that investment.
Another loan is far more plausible than a big-fee sale. Benfica have reached out. Paris Saint-Germain may consider an approach if some of their other summer targets prove unattainable.
In the meantime, under a hot Spanish sun, Joao Felix, once the most valued teenager in football, embarks on a gruelling pre-season at a club he wants to leave and under a coach who tends to stick around.
