MX23RW : Wednesday, January 1 03:42:45| >> :120:23286:23286:

Benfica chief opens door to Joao Felix exit

Benfica chief opens door to Felix exit
© Reuters
Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira suggests that it will be difficult to keep Joao Felix at the club amid strong interest from the Premier League.

Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira has suggested that Joao Felix is likely to leave the Portuguese giants this summer.

Felix's excellent campaign in the final third, in which he netted 19 times in all competitions, has inevitably led to interest from a number of European football's biggest clubs.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus have all been linked with the 19-year-old, who has been rewarded with a debut for his national team.

Vieira has always maintained that the prospect will remain at Benfica until a £106m release clause is activated, and it now appears that he is resigned to losing the club's biggest asset this summer.

"We sit down with players and they say, 'President, I can earn €5m (£4.5m), president, do not make me stay here," Vieira told reporters.

"Joao Felix had a release clause of €60m (£53m) and we realised after two or three games that we must increase it to €120m (£106m), but it is Joao Felix and his family who will decide if he stays.

"If someone bids €120m (£106m) it is not worth dreaming that he will stay. We are trying everything to ensure he stays, but the only way is if we sell him and keep him another year. If not, Joao leaves. There is no room to negotiate further. He doesn't want to."

Man City have allegedly indicated that they are willing to meet Felix's release clause.

ID:361542: cacheID:361542:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2747:
Written by
Darren Plant
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Finally a fresh image of Joao Felix in action for Benfica in February 2019
Read Next:
Benfica 'to increase Felix release clause'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!