AC Milan defender Kyle Walker had a blunt message for his team-mate Joao Felix as they proceeded through the tunnel at Napoli, attempting to come back from two goals behind
Sport
08:38, 01 Apr 2025
Kyle Walker had a message for Joao Felix
Kyle Walker pleaded with Joao Felix to pass the ball(Image: Serie A)
Kyle Walker sent AC Milan team-mate Joao Felix a blunt message at half-time their clash with Napoli. The Manchester City loanee gave the Portugal international a dressing down and pleaded with him to pass the ball, arguing that they did not have the capabilities of Lionel Messi.
Walker's message in the tunnel at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona proved little help to his team as Felix was replaced just 10 minutes into the second period. Milan were already two goals down at the break as goals from Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku handed Antonio Conte's side their advantage, with a late Luka Jovic goal proving only a consolation for the visitors.
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England international Walker joined AC Milan on loan in January and the move can be made permanent in the summer, while Felix arrived at the San Siro in the same month for a £5million fee for his temporary stay. The pair have so far being unable to help the Italian giants rise up the table and currently the Rossneri sit ninth in Serie A.
In part signed for his vast experience and leadership, Walker appeared unafraid of living up to his reponsibility to provide stern instruction to Felix, 25. Walker first called upon the ex-Atletico Madrid star from behind, and Felix stopped in his tracks as the veteran animatedly explained his message.
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"Pass the ball, we are not Messi," he said.
Milan improved in the second half, but given Felix's early substitution, that was predominantly without his services. Sergio Conceicao reflected on his team's reaction and why the first-half performance was substandard.
“I can’t express in words what I feel, it’s a disappointment," he said. I have to calm down, today everything happened. I’m not looking for excuses: I woke up with the doctor’s call for [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek and also Malik [Thiaw], who trained twice after the national team, like Gimenez.
Joao Felix and Kyle Walker
Joao Felix and Kyle Walker both joined AC Milan on loan in January
“You have to change everything in the preparation for the match. It takes work, but I liked the reaction. We have to understand why we didn’t have it in the first half.”
Felix has struggled to make an impression since departing Stamford Bridge earlier this year and managed just one goal in 11 outings. Former England and Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello was aghast to see him start ahead of Rafael Leao at the weekend.
"The first half was outrageous," he said. "I didn’t understand Sérgio Conceição’s choices, with João Félix starting against an opponent who runs like Napoli, and Rafael Leão out. Leão has something more, but he lacks continuity. The truth is that, if he had that, he might not even be at Milan .”
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