Cristiano Ronaldo slams ‘idiots’ who questioned Chelsea flop’s transfer decision
Cristiano Ronaldo slams ‘idiots’ who questioned Chelsea flop’s transfer decision
Cristiano Ronaldo has strongly defended his Portugal and Al-Nassr teammate João Felix after the forward’s decision to quit Chelsea this summer.
Felix’s once-promising career has drifted in recent seasons, with spells at Europe’s biggest clubs failing to provide a stable home. He has shown flashes of brilliance at AC Milan, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea, but never managed to fully settle.
Following a short loan at Stamford Bridge two years ago, the 25-year-old returned to Chelsea on a permanent deal last summer, only to be quickly deemed surplus to Enzo Maresca’s plans. A disappointing half-season loan at Milan came next, before Felix found himself back in west London searching for another move.
With few attractive offers from Europe, he accepted a £43.7 million transfer to Al-Nassr to play alongside Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League. Although he has started well in Riyadh, critics argue he chose the easy route instead of reviving his career in Europe during what should be his prime years.
Earlier this week, Portuguese podcast Chuveirinho criticized Felix, prompting Ronaldo to fire back on Instagram: “Idiots don’t understand anything about football, yet they still give their opinions,” he wrote, adding three crying-laughing emojis. The post was later deleted, and the podcast account responded by questioning whether they deserved such a rebuke after often praising the 40-year-old star.
Chelsea’s willingness to part with Felix was partly influenced by the rapid rise of young attackers like Cole Palmer and Estevão Willian. Maresca has said he is fortunate to be able to select between Palmer and the teenage Brazilian for the No. 10 role, and even hinted the pair could feature together.
Palmer started Wednesday’s loss to Bayern Munich on the right flank, with Enzo Fernandez deployed centrally and Estevão limited to a late cameo. The 18-year-old, who joined from Palmeiras, has impressed in his brief appearances—including a standout display at West Ham where he assisted Fernandez in a 5-1 victory.
Maresca praised the youngster’s ability to play across the attack but urged patience: “Estevão can excel in any forward position because his talent is exceptional. He’s a top player, but he’s only 18 and needs a little time. I’m lucky to have both Palmer and Estevão available.”
