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€50m Chelsea transfer receives Cristiano Ronaldo seal of approval
Tom Weber
- Updated: 8 Aug 2025 21:20 BST
- 4 min read
News
Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo believes that Joao Felix made the right decision by leaving Chelsea for the Saudi Pro League.
The Blues recently offloaded the Portugal international just 12 months after signing him. Felix struggled to get into the side in the first half of last season and spent the second half on loan at AC Milan, where he also failed to impress.
Despite his unconvincing performances - a common theme since his initial breakthrough at Benfica - Chelsea managed to recoup most of their €52 million outlay by selling him to Al-Nassr.
Current ETV
João Félix
F (L), M (C)
Al-Nassr
João Félix
F (L), M (C)
Al-Nassr
ETV Range
€17.5M - €21.4M
The Saudi side agreed to pay €30m upfront and a further €20m in easily achievable bonuses, so Chelsea expect to bank €50m from this deal. The move wasn't without controversy, though, as Felix initially looked set to return to Benfica.
Talks with his boyhood club had been ongoing for several weeks, and a deal was believed to be moving closer before Al-Nassr swooped in and offered significantly more money than Benfica were able to.
Ronaldo: Saudi Pro League better than Portuguese league
Given that in the weeks prior, Felix had talked up a move back 'home,' his decision to snub Benfica caused quite a stir in his native Portugal, and even new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo has now been forced to address the situation.
After scoring a hat-trick in a friendly win over Rio Ave, Ronaldo was asked if Al-Nassr had 'stolen' Felix from Benfica. "That’s an ugly word," he responded. "Nobody here steals from anyone."
Ronaldo added: “The Saudi league is very competitive, played at a great pace. I’ve said it before, going to Saudi Arabia was a better option for Felix than playing in the Portuguese league. Just look at the number of stars here. Even without the Champions League, it’s the right decision for him.”
Head coach Jorge Jesus, who previously had two spells in charge of Benfica, echoed this sentiment: “He was not a Benfica player. He was a Chelsea player. He could have come to Al-Nassr or gone to another club."
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