Sergio Conceição is not willing to lose, and he reaffirmed this in a press conference where he alternated a long defence of his career as both a coach and a player with an analysis of the moments of some of his players.
Regarding Tijjani Reijnders, the data supports him, as the Dutch player has the same goal-scoring average as he did in the first part of the season. The discussion, however, became more tactical regarding Joao Felix and his disappointing performances in recent matches.
More on the former Chelsea star:
In his 68 minutes against Bologna, he made only 8 passes, without even a hint of a shot on target. Joao, in fact, is not performing well and isn’t showing his potential, but he keeps playing. He is still on zero goals and zero assists in 4 games played. Giving a definitive judgment at this moment on his experience at Milan would be premature and unfair, but these signs, already seen before, cannot be ignored. They speak of a talent struggling to fulfill his potential. The lack of consistency still marks the trajectory of the Portuguese player, although Sergio Conceição has tried to shield him. "He is very good between the lines; in my opinion, sometimes with the desire to touch the ball many times, he moves into areas where it is not necessary: we need a second striker. He accepts that he must improve something every day, he needs to be more decisive: he must not find himself far from the goal as he does now. He needs to make a difference in the last thirty meters, and we are working on this with him, just like with other players."
How much would Joao Felix cost Milan if they were to sign him permanently?
Joao Felix was bought by Chelsea in the summer of 2024 for 52 million euros, as part of the deal that brought Conor Gallagher to Atlético Madrid. He currently earns a salary of 8.14 million euros annually and has a contract until 2030. Milan paid 5 million euros, including bonuses, for the loan and contributes to his salary, though part of it is covered by the Premier League club. To turn the loan into a permanent transfer, alternative ideas are needed to reduce costs: the minimum amount Chelsea needs to avoid a loss by June 30, 2025, is 41.6 million euros. So either Milan decides to include a technical counterpart to reduce the financial outlay as early as next summer, or they should try to renew the loan, this time with an obligation to buy in 2026 for at least 31.2 million euros.
The performances offered so far, apart from his goal against Roma in the Coppa Italia, do not justify such a conundrum. That’s why against Lazio, Joao Felix must begin a new chapter: 12 games to show he can consistently make a difference. He is not being asked to squander the magic of his playing style, which can sometimes be self-indulgent, but to score and assist. To be dangerous and a technical leader, to finally become great, as reported by Calcio Mercato.
