Joao Felix has revealed that he rejected an approach from reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan in favour of joining their rivals AC Milan on loan from Chelsea.
The 25-year-old found himself surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge just months after returning to London on a permanent seven-year contract.
Felix had previously spent time on loan at Chelsea before joining Barcelona under similar terms.
He was persuaded to return to Chelsea after a fee of just over £45million was agreed with his former club, Atlético Madrid.
However, under manager Enzo Maresca, Felix struggled for regular game time, as Maresca favored a combination of Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, and Noni Madueke in the Premier League.
As a result, Felix’s appearances were largely limited to Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League group-stage campaign – a competition the club are overwhelming favorites to win.
On deadline day, AC Milan swooped in to secure Felix’s services, and the Portugal international spoke highly of the club’s stature during his unveiling press conference.
He also expressed his intention to make his move permanent in the future.
“I knew about the greatness of this club, Milan are huge,” Joao Felix told reporters.
“From the outside, you can see it’s a very big club, and when you’re inside, you realise you’re in one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“I already knew the coach, I had played against him, and I followed him. I told him what I expected: to play in my role.
“He never told me if I would play a lot or a little, but to play in my role. That’s what convinced me to come to Milan.
“For now, I’m on loan until June. Let’s see how it goes.
“At the moment, I’m really enjoying everything: the club, the people, the facilities.
“I’ve been welcomed very well. The most important thing is to be where I feel good, and I feel good here.
“In football, things can change, but if there’s a possibility to stay at Milan, I would like that.”
“Yes, my agent told me about it,” Felix added.
“He said that Inter was interested. But I had already started talking to Milan, and I had already decided to come here.
“I said it would have been impossible, I had already made up my mind.”
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