Portuguese forward Joao Felix's red card against Fulham in his Premier League debut is set to cost Chelsea a massive 2.1 million pounds after he joined the Blues on loan from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Portuguese forward Joao Felix's move to an under-fire Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid till the end of the 2022-23 season was supposed to bring in a wave of relief for the west London club. However, his Premier League debut ended in a nightmare, adding to Graham Potter's woes.
Felix made his Chelsea debut on Thursday, with Fulham scoring 2-1 to clinch their three points. However, after initially impressing, the Portugal international's debut endured a catastrophic end as he was sent off for a reckless lunge on Cottagers defender Kenny Tete.
The 23-year-old forward's red card will now cost Chelsea a staggering 2.1 million pounds. To secure Felix's services, the Blues agreed to pay Atletico Madrid a loan fee of 9 million pounds for the short-term deal, while the west London club will also cover the Portuguese talent's wages during his spell, which is estimated to be around 6 million pounds. This amounts to a cost to the Blues of 15 million pounds over the next 21 Premier League games, including Thursday's loss to Fulham.
As a result, Chelsea will pay Felix 714,286 pounds each game to be a part of their team as they try to bounce back from a terrible start to the season that has them stuck in the middle of the Premier League table. The Portuguese forward will be absent from the Blues' games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham due to his dismissal for aggressive behaviour.
This three-game punishment for Felix will cost his new club a total of 2,142,858 pounds as part of the loan agreement.
Also read: Should Pochettino replace Potter as Chelsea manager? Blues' fans give ultimate verdict
Chelsea boss Graham Potter backed the Portuguese forward after the game, despite his costly error on and off the field, which gives the Englishman—who is already under pressure—further selection issues.
"It's really frustrating." 🗣️
Chelsea manager Graham Potter was left frustrated by the defeat to Fulham in the Premier League, and João Félix's red card ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ipl7zbcDfM
"A forward's tackle," said Chelsea boss Potter. "It didn't feel like an emotional one. It was miscontrolled and a football action that can happen with the speed of the Premier League. He didn't go to hurt anybody. He didn't lose his head," he added.
"They're all learning moments. Joao is a young player, a top player, and you see his qualities. There was no malice in it, but I understand why it was red. It was high, and the referee had the decision to make," Potter stated.
"It's really frustrating, incredibly challenging, and I feel for the supporters. It is another blow; the hits keep coming at the moment. He was really good; you could see his quality in the game, so to lose Joao for three matches is really disappointing," the Chelsea manager concluded.
Due to the loss to their west London rivals, Chelsea is now in 10th place in the Premier League table, 10 points below the top four, and has played one more game than fourth-place Manchester United.
Meanwhile, a meme fest exploded on Twitter, with football enthusiasts finding humour in Joao Felix's red card on his debut on English soil. Here's a look at how fans reacted:
Ref giving Joao Felix a red card pic.twitter.com/q0BR7klTgi
— Linus (@linusMufc)João Félix a couple of seconds before receiving his red card pic.twitter.com/J0dZo0cgJm
— Faizal Rosly (@ijaicool)Darwin Nunez seeing Joao Felix getting a red card 57 minutes into his debut pic.twitter.com/2IJeS4ZhMM
— invincibles ❁ (@Afc_invincibleG)Diego Simeone seeing Joao Felix getting a red card 57 minutes into his debut pic.twitter.com/EOS0UDggjH
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible)Just as we thought things couldn’t get worse, they do, Joao Felix gets a red card. We are truly cursed. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK)Get a straight red card in my first game, get some rest for one month, and pocket £2.2m during that ban period. Joao Felix is the real investor. pic.twitter.com/5av6HtszJh
— Mr. El-Bonga (@el_bonga)1 win in their last 9 PL games.
Red Card for Joao Felix.
If you are enjoying this Chelsea downfall put your hands up in the air.
Me. 👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/9zyQDyzkIH
6 months loan deal is now 5 months after the red card for Joao Felix.
Straight red is a 3-match ban i.e. One month off from the loan deal.
With the loan fee & the red, this could go down as a "waste" of money.
Tough for Potter
Joao Felix getting one nutmeg and one red card in his Chelsea debut pic.twitter.com/xC2D4qmn07
— Yu (@YucciMane)Joao Felix when he FaceTimes Magui after his red card: pic.twitter.com/9AkYWE6YJR
— 𝓭𝓲𝔃𝔂 #DutchDrake 🇳🇱 (@DizyATM)Joao felix dropping 9/10 performance and a red card on his debut pic.twitter.com/4UcKGJFwkp
— nik #GraciasAguero (@shinsunik)Joao Felix made his Chelsea debut today, is only on a half-season loan, and picked up a red card + a three game ban 💀 pic.twitter.com/TUODXXB4dm
— Whistle FC (@WhistleFC)Joao Felix gets a Red Card😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/reF4poKPBg
— UpYourArsenal🔴⚪🔴⚪♥️ (@UPYOURARSENAL04)Joao Felix played for under Simeone for 3 years and never got a red card,
In his first game for Chelsea he is sent off 😭
https://t.co/5ETQOdvoGo
Joao Felix straight red card on his debut + he’s gonna miss the next 3 games pic.twitter.com/1dYaavongK
— 🏴 (@LJGLA_)Chelsea fans watching Joao Felix sent off with a red card in his first match 😭 pic.twitter.com/KrRq10X4OK
— Whistle FC (@WhistleFC)Joao felix and Darwin nunez discussing their first EPL red card😥😢😴😴 pic.twitter.com/TCbmFGDcJ1
— Youngche Ceesay (@ChernoCeesay9)Chelsea fans after Joao Felix got a red card on his debut pic.twitter.com/LZ8a2ZVVXQ
— Kidd Eazi (@KiddEazi1)ANTONY HAD A GOAL ON HIS DEBUT. JOAO FELIX HAD RED CARD ON HIS DEBUT pic.twitter.com/i2N7gbrVBI
— EMPERØR FEES (@eantwi2714)“It’s a goal for Willian against his former team, it gets bad to worse as Joao Felix gets a red card on his debut for Chelsea” pic.twitter.com/8RO0ryJS59
— Kaz (@CFCKaz6)Joao Felix after receiving that red card knowing he will have his holiday in London atleast for three weekends 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/QBxwFH7Rof
— Brian Kanyo🌚 (@BrianKanyomozi)Diego Simeone’s letter to Joao Felix after seeing that red card
pic.twitter.com/rzSeYjCUER