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João Félix: The Golden Boy or Flop

Well, in light to the main topic of this/my first ever column, I just want to say, thank you for clicking and reading this piece. I hope you enjoy it.

If you don't already know him, you will have definitely have heard about Benfica and Portugal's current gem, João Félix. Hailed by many as the successor to Ronaldo, but how exactly does he match any team's criteria of an ideal player. In fact, what makes him the most wanted youngster in the world of football right now?

About our man

Born on the 10th of November 1999 in Viseu, João Félix is 5ft 9, right footed and he begun his career at a young age signing for FC Porto's academy "Dragon Force" before making a move to Benfica for free, joining their U17 side.  

At 16 years old, he was already establishing himself within Benfica's Youth setup in Seixal, scoring 6 goals in 10 games (as well as an assist) in the UEFA Youth League and 3 goals in 12 appearances in the Ledman Liga Pro (Portugal's Second Division), impressing at the time manager, Hélder Cristóvão and earning him a move to Benfica B the following season. In the 2017/18 season, he got his shot for Benfica B, picking up 17 Ledman Liga Pro appearances with 4 goals and 5 assists, spending most season playing as a Winger and Attacking Midfielder. 

João Félix playing for Benfica B vs Manchester United in the UEFA Youth League.

This season, saw a surprise to many Benfica fans. With a lack of strikers at the disposal of at the time manager Rui Vitória, he turned to Benfica B's talents, scooping up, you guessed it, João Félix. Benfica fans were excited to see what he could bring to the table, especially due to a recent saga between Jonas and Rui Vitória over his contract renewal causing Jonas to "become injured" for a long period of time and a recent signing Facundo Ferreyra who was yet to score a goal.

The Rise

25th of August, 3rd match of the season sees Benfica face Sporting CP in a Lisbon Derby at the Estádio da Luz. Sporting lead with a Nani penalty and with Facundo Ferreyra showing lack of threat and not scoring, comes off with Pizzi, Seferovic and the kid himself, João Félix come off the bench to replace both players respectively. On the 85th minute, the ball is knocked down to the right handside to Rafa, who whips it in first time, and who is there to meet his cross? João Félix. He rises the highest, heading the ball to the back of the net - sending Benfica fans into jubilation and scoring his first ever senior goal with less than 60 minutes of game time under his belt, making him the youngest player to ever score in a Lisbon Derby.

João Félix scoring the equaliser in the Lisbon Derby draw against Sporting. He became the youngest player to do so.

Fans were left begging to see him play more, but were left waiting a month before seeing him play again this time vs Desportivo Aves, where he scored from a sensational first time finish with his weaker left foot. 

But, for manager Rui Vitória, this wasn't enough and insisted on playing Facundo Ferreyra, in fact, it was only on the 5th of December did Benfica fans see Félix in the starting lineup again, this time in the League Cup tie vs Paços de Ferreira, where he started as a right winger and scored a goal, this time with his right foot.

Rui Vitória would only use Félix as an "off the bench" player and didn't see much in him, occasionally bringing him on in some matches on the late stages of the match. Rui Vitória was stubborn, his lack of change and boring ideas and football caused his demise, seeing him sacked after a 2-0 loss vs Portimonense in early January. Many big names were linked to the Benfica job, from José Mourinho to Braga’s Abel Ferreira, but, Chairman, Luís Filipe Vieira turned to caretaker manager and at the time Benfica B manager Bruno Lage, his first test being Rio Ave in the League at home.

Benfica B manager Bruno Lage takes charge of the first team following the sacking of Rui Vitória.

From Bruno Lage's first lineup in charge, we saw 2 changes, a new formation and João Félix in the starting lineup. A refreshing 4-4-2 saw Benfica starting João Félix as a Shadow Striker behind Target Man Seferovic. 

It wasn't a promising start to the game, Benfica were 2-0 down by 20 minutes. 7 minutes later, a Seferovic finish saw Benfica go 2-1 up and 4 minutes later, Seferovic crosses the ball in for João Félix who scores with his right foot. In the second half, on the 64th minute, he went on to score again, this time from a low Zivkovic cross saw another potent right foot finish from the golden boy, Benfica went on to win 4-2 in Bruno Lage's first game in charge of the Eagles.

This was the beginning to his success this season.

My Thoughts and Views on João

Let's cut to the chase, enough of me rambling on about Benfica, their matches and managers.

João's position is a Shadow Striker. At Shadow Striker is where he shines and has been at best, usually alongside a Target Man and partner in crime Haris Seferovic. But the 19 year old is versatile, he can also play as a Winger or Attacking Midfielder. His ability to play with both feet at such ease as well as heading and overall playmaking ability, is what makes him, in my opinion, the best Shadow Striker in the market, especially for his price tag. He is pacey, skilful and shows shades of a Rui Costa/Kaká with a bit of Cruyff in the mix when on the ball. When in front of goal, it is rare that you will see him take many touches before shooting, he has this Striker's drive and Poacher's finishing which is second to none. This goes without saying about his playmaking ability, he is not selfish and looks to assist when he can. This season he has scored a total of 15 in all competitions and assisted 7 goals. (as of 12th of April 2019)

He is not shy of a big game either, scoring and assisting against Sporting again in the Lisbon Derby during a 4-2 win in Alvalade in February and scoring vs Porto at the Estádio do Dragão in March on Benfica's 2-1 win in the Clásico.

Félix celebrating his equaliser over Porto.

When looking at the historial past and well known players seen at Benfica, the term flop tends to be placed on a youngster, Renato Sanches. My fear, is that like Renato Sanches and many other footballers at his young age, he joins a footballing giant, whom and who's fans will be very demanding and causing such young player not to perform to his full potential. Renato Sanches was (and still is) a very promising, showing fantastic ability to boss a midfield with great ease and dominate the opposition as well the ability of being able to score some screamers, but high expectations and extraordinary amounts of pressure has meant that Sanches has not been able to reach his potential just yet. 

He is young, in fact, far too young to move clubs just yet in my opinion, and this might be biased, but he should be given time to develop as a player - or - be loaned back to Benfica to gain experience. It is easy for me, a soon to be 18 year old sit here and tell someone to wait rather than making a move to a dream club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United or Liverpool, but at the end of the day, I can't blame him if he does!

National Worries

On the 15th of March, Félix earned his Portugal call-up, but is yet to make an appearance after getting injured in the training ground. What Portugal also have in their hands, is a Rui Vitória clone - by the name of Fernando Santos. Like Vitória, the problem with Fernando Santos is the unwillingness to change and experiment within the 11. Often Santos will play the same players in the same boring formation as he has been for the past 4/5 years, and its frustrating when you have a golden generation on their way, yet he insists on playing Pepe, Rui Fonte, André Silva, Guerreiro to name a few. I will explain Portugal's international worries and problems in a new column in the foreseeable future.

Back to Félix, I see him lining up like he does at Benfica, in a 4-4-2 next to Ronaldo, with Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes on their respective wings, Ruben Neves and William Carvalho in the midfield. Ruben Dias and Ferro at centre backs, Guerreiro (as much as I dislike him) and Cancelo at fullbacks with Rui Patrício in goal. This is of course how I would want us to start, knowing Fernando Santos, Félix will be used as an utility player instead!

The Final say

Last night, we saw the lethal and potent golden boy Benfica have in their hands. Félix scoring his first-of-many hat-trick vs Frankfurt, whilst also grabbing an assist making him the youngest player to do so since Sergio Aguero in 2007. Much to the success João Félix is having, is also down to Bruno Lage who has revolutionised this Benfica side and slotted him in a key "Shadow Striker" role, as well as Benfica's famous Seixal academy who are yet again on the road to produce a world class talent. I personally think that he should stay at Benfica for another season, or, if he decides to join football giant, to be loaned back out to Benfica before making the step up, as well as to gain experience.

An €120m release clause is seen as a bargain in today's market, but will prospective buyers be willing to give him a chance and patience before considering him another flop? Can a 19 year old hold on the urge to move to a footballing giant or will he roll the dice and look to move away? We will have to wait and see.

Thanks again for reading. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to message me on Twitter: @tiagoalex1904.