Benfica Struggles to Meet Financial Demands for João Félix Return

João Félix is eager to leave Chelsea this summer and return to his former club Benfica, seeking more playing time and a return to his comfort zone to revive his career. Despite Chelsea's willingness to sell him for a reasonable price, negotiations are complicated by Benfica's financial constraints, as they prefer a loan but Chelsea insists on a permanent transfer with a €30 million asking price, while Benfica is willing to pay up to €25 million. A significant obstacle is Félix's salary, reportedly around €8 million per year, which is double Benfica’s wage structure, meaning the player must accept a substantial pay cut for the move to materialize. Félix has struggled to adapt to English football and has not secured consistent game time, including a loan spell at AC Milan last season. Both the player and Benfica are pushing hard for the reunion, hoping that returning to familiar surroundings will help Félix regain his confidence and fulfill his considerable potential. Chelsea, not viewing Félix as a key player, appears open to the transfer, seeing it as an opportunity to reinvest in their squad.