Al Nassr’s 4-1 win over Damac on the final day of the season saw the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix win the Saudi Pro League title – and Chelsea are set to benefit.
Al Nassr secured only their second league win in the last decade, and their first since 2018-19, seeing off the challenge of Al Hilal, Ivan Toney’s Al Ahli and Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiyah, who finished in fourth.
DISCUSS: Gabriel Jesus as cover for Joao Pedro next season
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus holding medal
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League
Portugal star Felix joined Al Nassr from Chelsea last summer. It saw the Saudi giants pay an initial £26.2m for Felix, but that a deal could reach £43.7m with add-ons. Felix has had a hand in 45 goals this term.
Incredible form from the ex-Atletico Madrid and Benfica star despite the drop in quality of the opposition he is facing. Now, Chelsea are set to benefit from his impressive numbers, with an add-on activated.
Chelsea to receive £4m windfall as Joao Felix wins league title
Al Nassr’s hierarchy will have been delighted to have win the title, given the amount they have spent to bring some serious big hitters to the club. The wage bill at Al Nassr will be huge, especially with Ronaldo.
Joao Felix playing for Al Nassr
Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images
But the title celebrations might have been met with a slightly sour note when the board will have been told that they need to shell out around £5m to Chelsea and Bayern Munich, because of Coman and Felix.
According to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Al Nassr included title clauses in the deals to sign both Felix and Coman. Chelsea are due to receive £4m from Felix’s deal, while Bayern are set to receive around £1m.
Did Chelsea make the right decision to let Joao Felix leave?
It was only two years ago that Chelsea paid around £50m to sign Felix from Atletico Madrid. Six months later, he went on loan to AC Milan and then a year after his move to London – Al Nassr landed Felix.
Chelsea should have given Joao Felix more time… 🪄
45 G/A in 47 games!
It came after an initial loan period during the second half of the 2022-23 season. He would then go to Barcelona for a year before moving to London for a second spell, this time on a permanent basis.
He clocked up 40 appearances in a Chelsea shirt, scoring 11 goals and laying on two assists. While his form in Saudi Arabia is stunning, it is difficult to read whether that suggests it was a mistake to sell him.
What is obvious, is that Chelsea didn’t give him enough time. Felix is the kind of player that Chelsea would love to have at the club right now, especially a rejuvenated Felix playing with huge confidence.
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