According to recent reports, Manchester City are apparently closing in on a move for Benfica sensation, Joao Felix.
19-year-old Portuguese starlet Joao Felix has had a dream start to his professional football career. In his very first season in top-flight football, Felix has been involved in 25 goals for his side Benfica, who lead the Portuguese league table and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League where they were knocked out by German side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Felix is perhaps one of the most sought after players in the world right now, having impressed Europe’s elite with his great vision for a pass, smart link-up play, and his brilliant technical ability. Like most great players, Felix is a step or two ahead of his opponents, often visualising a pass even before the ball arrives at his feet.
Portuguese news outlet Record have reported that Felix’s parents have spoken with Manchester City over a deal to bring the player to Manchester in the summer. The report claims that Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain was on hand to watch the youngster score a hat-trick against German club Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.
The who’s who of Europe are interested in the youngster, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid all vying for his signature. The youngster’s release clause with Benfica is at £100 million, but that number could see a change as Benfica’s President recently revealed that the teenager’s release clause will be increased.
What will Joao Felix add to Guardiola’s Manchester City
A versatile player, the teenager can play in multiple positions – out on the left, cutting inside into opposition defences, but is predominantly a No. 10, playing behind the main striker, dictating the tempo of the game and finding killer passes for his attackers.
Felix has completed an average of 75% of all his passes this season, which is a good number for a 19-year-old in his debut season while averaging 23 passes each game (all stats from Whoscored).
His smart movement in the final third without the ball and his intelligent passing has drawn comparisons with current Manchester City and former Benfica player Bernardo Silva.
Felix is a player who will fit seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s quick, possession-based football, adding quality to City’s already talented midfield comprising of David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan.