Old Friends, New Derby: Felix and Conceicao Chase Glory in a Saudi Clasico

Family roots and football flames

Two Portuguese icons with a shared past are about to collide in the Saudi King’s Cup: Joao Felix and Rodrigo Conceicao, now starring for Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad respectively. Felix’s arrival in the Saudi Pro League this season followed a career that traversed Benfica’s academy, Porto’s youth teams, and stints in Europe’s elite, including Milan and Chelsea. Conceicao, meanwhile, has emerged as a coaching beacon who brought his father’s Porto-era philosophy into a new era of Saudi football, eventually guiding Al-Ittihad into the spotlight.

Their history goes far beyond the pitch. Their bond began in 2015 when Felix joined Benfica after leaving Porto. They shared a dormitory, vacationed together, and built a friendship that would outlast league borders. Felix has repeatedly described their camaraderie as one of his strongest personal connections, emphasising what a “great person” Rodrigo is and how their bond endured despite the professional distances.

Rivalry, evolution, and a Saudi reunion

The friendship was tested when Rodrigo’s father, Sergio Conceicao, took the helm at Porto in 2017. The dynamic shifted as Felix and Rodrigo rose through Benfica’s ranks, eventually facing off in domestic and European clashes as their paths diverged. The 2019 encounters highlighted the tension: a Portuguese Cup semifinal in which Felix’s Benfica slipped to Porto, and a league fixture where Felix starred in a comeback win that briefly reshaped the standings. Yet even amid heated exchanges, Felix reached out to Rodrigo after striking a handshake-gone-cold moment, with Rodrigo’s son providing context to resolve the tension.

European nights followed: Porto and Atletico Madrid clashed in 2021-2023, and Barcelona appeared in 2023-2024. The encounters were often balanced, with each side winning on occasions, but Felix’s early promise sometimes outshone Porto’s resistance, while in other occasions the tables turned. These clashes underscored a nuanced relationship: a mix of rivalry and mutual respect, with both players leaving a lasting imprint on their peers and coaches alike.

After 2024, Conceicao left Porto and briefly guided Milan as Felix’s fortunes shifted with a loan spell that put both men on a new path. Felix found himself flourishing when brought into Milan’s system, even as struggles followed. The season’s end saw Felix return to Chelsea, while Conceicao transitioned to a new challenge in Italy’s football capital. The two eventually converged in the Saudi desert: Felix at Al-Nassr, Conceicao at Al-Ittihad, now set to meet in a high-profile Cup tie on October 28, underlining how global football can rewrite old chapters in fresh, glittering ink.

As the KIng’s Cup fixture nears, the spotlight isn’t just on footballing skills but on the personal saga that threads these players' careers: friendship maturing into professional rivalry, family ties shaping coaching legacies, and a move to Saudi Arabia turning a classic rivalry into a modern spectacle. It’s a reminder that football stories aren’t merely about goals; they’re about chapters that cross continents and generations, all leading to a moment where two old friends carry the weight of history into a single, decisive clash.

Punchline 1: If friendship were a transfer fee, these two would be priceless—and somehow cheaper than a bench warmer’s contract.
Punchline 2: In football, drama isn't just in the scoreboard; it's in the stairs to the locker room, where two Portuguese legends prove that dads coach, and friends still score the best punchlines.