Why Felix Finally Found His Rhythm: Martinez Reveals the Loan Dilemma Behind the Barcelona Hang-up

Felix's club journey and the loans saga

Joao Felix joined Atletico Madrid from Benfica for a world-record fee of 126 million euros, but he failed to live up to the lofty expectations on the pitch. He was subsequently loaned to Chelsea, with links to Barcelona, yet success eluded him at every stop.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez later explained the root cause of the underwhelming spells before Felix found his form with Al Nassr: constant changes in clubs and his status prevented him from settling in and building momentum.

Martinez specifically pointed out that being loaned to several clubs, rather than a permanent player, made it hard for Felix to establish himself and play his natural game.

Martinez's assessment and Felix's current rhythm

Martinez said Felix genuinely enjoys the challenge and that the right environment matters—when with the national team there is a clear contrast to his club loan spells, where limited playing time and pressure to deliver can hamper his rhythm. He emphasized that Felix can be a creative playmaker, delivering passes to attackers and driving the tempo when given space.

Ending the loans and providing stability, Martinez argued, could be the crucial step to unlock Felix's potential, a path that seems to be taking shape as he shines in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.

Humor note: In football as in life, if you’re on loan to half the teams in the league, at least your locker room playlist should have a good DJ—otherwise even a genius forward can’t score with a mute button.