Transfer Centre

Benfica chief opens door to Joao Felix exit

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 09 June 2019

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.