Joao Felix is confident Enzo Fernandez will go on to become one of Europe’s best midfielders as he defended his new team-mate’s price tag.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Fernandez was one that dominated the January transfer window, with the Blues eventually agreeing a deal with Benfica late on deadline day for a British record £107million.
The World Cup winner made his Chelsea debut last weekend against Fulham, producing a tidy display but he was unable to inspire Graham Potter’s side to victory as yet more points were dropped.
Felix knows better than most how a transfer fee can weigh on a player, having left Benfica himself in 2019 to join Atletico Madrid in a £113m deal.
The 23-year-old is on loan at Chelsea until the end of the season, after falling out of favour with Diego Simeone in Spain, and he has already seen enough training alongside Fernandez to insist the fee was justified.
“It is becoming more and more normal for amounts like this to be spent,” Felix told AS.
“Football has changed and it will be common for amounts of £80m, £90m, £100m, £110m to be paid.
“He deserves that valuation because he is a young player, he is very good and he still has a lot of room to evolve. He will surely become one of the best midfielders in Europe.”
Graham Potter’s task now is to integrate a whole host of fresh arrivals into the Chelsea side, with little time to waste ahead ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund. The first leg is coming up in midweek.
Felix though is confident that Fernandez is already settling into his new surroundings, with the two new signings registered in Chelsea’s European squad along with Mykhailo Mudryk for the knockout stages.
“He’s a really good guy, he has entered the group very well,” Felix said.
“He arrived only two days before a game [against Fulham] but started playing straight away. He has been very good. He is a very good player.”
