'Chelsea's demands were impossible' - Blues criticised after failed summer transfer

Cameron Smith

• 29 Sep 2025 13:00 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage has slammed Chelsea following Joao Felix’s failed move back to the club this summer.

Felix, 25, was a primary transfer target for Benfica ahead of the 2025-26 campaign and multiple reports have confirmed that he was interested in rejoining the Portuguese giants on a permanent deal.

Current ETV

João Félix

F (L), M (C)

Al-Nassr

João Félix

F (L), M (C)

Al-Nassr

€15.4M

ETV Range

€13.8M - €16.9M

View full profile

However, Benfica were unable to finalise an agreement with Chelsea, and Felix eventually joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for an initial fee of £26 million (€30m) in late July.

Lage, who was sacked by Benfica earlier this month, has opened up on Felix’s failed transfer back to Portugal during an interview with A Bola.

What has Bruno Lage said about Joao Felix?

“I started to believe Joao could come,” Lage admitted. “He's arriving in Portugal, and I'm leaving on vacation. I was at the airport when I received his statement and called him. I spoke to him and told him that if he said that publicly, he was opening doors, and I would speak to the president to make his wishes come true, as it was everyone's wish.

“But Chelsea, which paid what it did for Joao, was always intransigent about the fees to be paid, and it would be very difficult for Benfica, despite having done almost everything possible to bring back a homegrown player.

“Joao showed a huge desire to return to Benfica and also understood the entire team I was trying to build, where he could be a very important piece, but Chelsea's demands were impossible.”

Since arriving at Al-Nassr, Felix has scored seven goals and provided two assists in eight appearances across all competitions. The ex-Chelsea star has been deployed in an attacking midfield role behind compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, with Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman providing width.

After missing out on Felix, Benfica finalised a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk wonderkid Georgiy Sudakov and he has immediately become a key player in Lisbon.

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