After Gimenez, Conceição AC Milan's head coach can now count on the Portuguese forward on loan from Chelsea.
Santiago Gimenez alone wasn’t enough. Not to have the certainty that everything possible had been done in the transfer market to push for Champions League qualification.
So, Milan has secured another major signing for their attacking department, João Félix. His agent, Jorge Mendes, worked tirelessly in London from Sunday evening to finalize the deal and make him available for Sergio Conceição.
Chelsea, which had hoped to sell him within the Premier League and had asked Aston Villa for £50 million (a deal that never took off), ultimately accepted a loan move, clearing the way for his arrival in Milan. The Blues will receive €2 million plus another €2.5 million in bonuses linked to Champions League qualification and winning a trophy. There is no buy option included, as Chelsea paid €52 million for him last summer, and negotiating a high redemption fee could have complicated the deal. Milan will cover his wages until June, €2 million net plus bonuses.
The João Félix deal highlights how much the club’s ownership is committed to finishing the season strongly. That’s why they had no hesitation in investing in a promising striker like 23-year-old Gimenez while also securing two short-term reinforcements (Walker and João Félix) that will significantly aid the former Porto coach in climbing up the league standings and progressing in the Champions League.
Arrival and Medicals
João Félix landed at Milan’s private flight terminal in Malpensa at 10 PM last night, accompanied by his father, Carlos Sequeira. He immediately headed to Casa Milan to sign his contract, where he was welcomed by Ibrahimović, Furlani, and Moncada. Afterward, he checked into the Melia Hotel, his first home in Milan.
This morning, he will undergo medical examinations before heading to Milanello for training. Conceição has moved the morning session to the afternoon to accommodate him. If all paperwork is finalized today, including the transfer clearance from the Premier League, Félix will be available for tomorrow night's Coppa Italia match against Roma. There’s little doubt about the timing, as Milan must submit its updated 25-man league squad list by midnight tonight. Félix will take the place of Okafor, who has joined Napoli on loan.
Fitness-wise, there are no concerns. Although he started only three Premier League matches this season, he has been training regularly. Chelsea’s decision to mainly use him in the Conference League was a tactical one by Maresca, who preferred Cole Palmer and Nkunku as attacking midfielders in his 4-2-3-1 system.
Regarding his shirt number, both No. 79 and No. 18 (recently vacated by Zeroli, who moved to Monza) are available—both numbers he has previously worn in his career.
The Push and the Call
Beyond Conceição’s presence, a key factor in Félix’s decision to join Milan was the influence of his Portugal teammate Rafael Leão. Leão, who has a strong bond with Félix, convinced him by describing the quality of life in Milan. Whether they will compete for the same starting spot is another matter…
So far, the only coach who has truly maximized Félix’s potential was Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid, the club that signed him from Benfica for €120 million in 2019. Now, it’s up to Conceição to bring out the best in him. The coach, who has long admired Félix, spoke with him in recent days and even called him again last night after his arrival in Milan—an appreciated gesture. Félix has taken note of Conceição’s expectations and is ready for the challenge.
This is good news for Milan: João Félix isn’t here just for a change of scenery or to spend a few months in a new city. He wants to play and make a difference. Milan and its fans certainly hope so.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
