'The Ugly Duckling' of European football

When Joao Felix appeared in senior football, wearing his boyhood club Benfica's jersey, he quickly enchanted every fan of the most important secondary thing in the world. Some - and when we say "some," we mean Atletico Madrid - were so dazzled by him that they splashed out €126 million, which is still the fourth most expensive transfer ever.

Yet, from this perspective, it seems to have been Felix's peak. Now, at the age of (only) 25, he faces a serious crossroads like players much closer to retirement do. To keep it simple - nobody wants him. But how could that happen to the player who is seventh in accumulated transfer fees (€196 million)?

Joao Felix - not so lucky after all

With Atletico, he was mediocre. Loans at Chelsea and Barcelona didn't help him realize his potential, though the Blues - for some reason - opted to purchase him last August. However, after only five and a half months, the management at Stamford Bridge wanted to get rid of him and loaned him to AC Milan.

In Italy, Felix's performances even worsened. Only one goal and as many assists in 12 appearances can't be a good recommendation, and thus, it's no wonder the Rossoneri don't want to keep the Portuguese. The problem is that Chelsea don't want him back.

So, there's a dead-end street before the forward. Where to go next? He tried his luck in Spain, England, and Italy - excluding his homeland - and things didn't work out. He may be interested in the Bundesliga or Ligue 1, but there are no interested parties in Germany or France.

According to some sources, he could move to Turkey, as Galatasaray are allegedly keen on signing him. Considering his current status, playing alongside Mauro Icardi, Dries Mertens, Victor Osimhen, and Alvaro Morata - if the latter two stay with the club after their loan deals expire - wouldn't be that bad.

But is playing in Turkey - with all due respect - a dream come true for a 25-year-old who's worn Atletico, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Milan's jerseys? You know the answer, and so does Felix.