Despite João Félix expressing a strong desire to return to Benfica—where Bruno Lage, a formative figure in his career, is now back as manager—the club has hit a wall over the transfer fee and his high wages. Benfica had been prepared to offer roughly €25 million for half of the player’s rights, but Chelsea is reportedly seeking €50 million or staged payments adding up to €40 million.
Sensing an opportunity, Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr have submitted a firm proposal to Chelsea—and separately approached Félix with a contract offer. Their bid reportedly meets Chelsea’s valuation and includes terms attractive enough to sway the player.
Reports suggest Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus intervened behind the scenes, encouraging Félix to consider Al Nassr as the next step—using their own presence at the club to persuade him. According to Fabrizio Romano, talks between Chelsea, Al Nassr, and Félix are now in the final stages, with a decision expected within 24–48 hours.
Félix has publicly stated a heartfelt desire to return to Benfica, seeing it as his “home,” and might be willing to accept a significant salary reduction. However, Benfica’s offer of up to €30 million appears unlikely to satisfy Chelsea’s expectations. The Premier League club’s strained relationship with Benfica following the Enzo Fernández saga also complicates the matter.
Al Nassr, with stronger financial resources, seem better positioned to meet Chelsea’s demands and close the deal swiftly. With negotiations accelerating, they now appear favourites to secure Félix’s signature. Benfica’s hopes are fading as financial and contractual hurdles persist, and Félix could be on the verge of starting a new chapter in Saudi Arabia.
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