مدير عام كرة القدم
- Agent rips into Saudi switch decision
- Benfica return deemed wiser but rejected
- Career missteps blamed on player himself
Felix is on the verge of joining Al-Nassr from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £43.7 million (€51m/$56m), linking up with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the الدوري السعودي للمحترفين. However, FIFA-licensed agent Jen Mendelewitsch has sharply criticised the transfer, accusing Felix of surrendering control of his career and branding the Portuguese forward a “money-printing machine” who prioritised profit over purpose.
Speaking to RMC Sport she suggested the forward has prioritised financial gain over footballing ambition and failed to take control of his own path: “Joao Felix hasn’t played football for a long time. He’s a printer. He’s a money-printing machine, and with his own approval, since he doesn’t rebel. He should have been in charge of his career a long time ago, not allowing people to decide for him and send him to projects he doesn’t like. When you know his potential, it’s sad. But he’s an example of what not to do when you’re a young player with potential.”
Reflecting on Felix’s failure to settle at top European clubs, Mendelewitsch said: “We can ask all the questions possible. It’s everyone’s fault, really. In other words, the player decided to indulge in projects he doesn’t like. I’m trying to defend him a bit, but Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Milan, he tried to relaunch himself at Barcelona. He had a good time with Xavi. What I mean is that these are attractive clubs for him to recover.”
And while rumours had linked the Portuguese forward with a return to his boyhood club, Benfica, the agent believes money played a decisive role: “Some people talk about football mercenaries, others talk about victims of the business. In either case, he’s the perfect example of the traps many talented young players can fall into. There were rumours that he would return to Benfica. It would have made a little more sense, but I think he didn’t want to make that financial sacrifice.”
Once hailed as one of Europe’s brightest prospects, Felix has endured a nomadic few years. Since his €126m (£106m/$137m) move to Atletico Madrid in 2019, the forward has struggled for consistency across spells at Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan. Now at just 25, his decision to move to Saudi Arabia rather than reignite his career at a club like Benfica has drawn heavy scrutiny. For Chelsea, the deal is another part of a fire-sale aimed at easing financial pressure and meeting UEFA’s squad registration rules after heavy spending this summer.
Felix will travel to Riyadh for a medical and is expected to sign imminently with Al-Nassr. The move pairs him with CR7, offering a chance to rediscover form under a mentor he grew up idolising. But with his European journey now on pause, the pressure is on to prove he’s more than just a costly journeyman. Whether this is a career revival or another detour remains to be seen.
