Chelsea handed £42m transfer blow as Dario Essugo decision speaks volumes

Category: Sports |

Benfica have recently explored the possibility of bringing back their former academy star Joao Felix, who initially joined the club from Porto in 2015 and quickly rose to prominence before moving abroad. However, club president Rui Costa has poured cold water on the idea of a reunion, citing the enormous financial costs involved in both transfer fees and player wages, which are well beyond Benfica’s current capabilities. While acknowledging Felix's quality and the admiration he commands among fans, Costa emphasized that top talents like Joao come at a steep price that the club simply cannot meet at the moment. Meanwhile, further casting doubt on Felix’s future at Chelsea, the No.14 shirt he wore during his loan spell has now been assigned to new signing Dario Essugo. This, combined with limited playing time during his second stint at Stamford Bridge—largely due to the rise of standout performer Cole Palmer—suggests the Portuguese forward may be facing a pivotal juncture in his career