Joao Felix is the new name marked in big red ink inside the notebooks of Europe’s most important football scouts. The Benfica youngster has just scored a hat-trick in the Europa League at a record age. Manchester United and Real Madrid are lining up their offers. What is all the hubbub about? The FootballCoin fantasy stats help us shed light on the situation.
There’s no real need for any additional proof of Portugal being a veritable hatchery for football talent. It is what teams like Porto and Benfica bank on. It is also the reason why these clubs, lacking the budgets of European behemoths, make it to the final stages of the UCL and UEL regularly.
Ruben Neves, Diogo Leite, Goncalo Guedes, Rafael Leao, Gedson Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Ruben Dias. If you don’t know these names, it is best to get accustomed to them now. They are among a host of Portuguese youngsters spoken about in reverential terms by football scouts and conscientious fans.
Joao Felix is perhaps, the brightest star of them all. His performance against Eintracht Frankfurt certainly lends weight to the statement. Felix scored a hat-trick in this Europa League tie, making Benfica clear favorites for a semi-final place.
UEL record breaker
With his three strikes, Felix, becomes the youngest player to net three times in the Europa League. Sergio Aguero had previously held the record for a hat-trick netted back in 2007, at the tender age of was 19. Felix is a month younger than the famous Argentine was at the time, although many envision a similarly bright future.
In the recent FootballCoin contest, the Portuguese forward managed 41 points. (Note that the Europa League fantasy is played on Easy mode in FootballCoin). Other publications have also provided Felix a near perfect rating. The goals helped Benfica to a 4-2 victory over their German opponents.
The striker’s performances in local Portuguese league, Liga NOS, further the claims about his potential. Starting the season off as a prospect player, Felix has fought his way into the first team. This season he has netted 10 times and provided 4 assists.
He has been described as a player with terrific movement skills on the field, capable of making impossible passes seem easy. Not only that, he is clearly a frequent goal threat. He has been able to amass 284 points in FootbalCoin this season, with Liga NOS and UEL fantasy contests both factored in.
Who will Felix play for next season?
Teams in Portugal know that, for the most part, they will not be able to hold on to their best, young talent. So, they make sure that when they do sell players, they do so at a considerable benefit to their earnings.
Some of the teams rumored to have inquired about Felix include Manchester United, Man City, Juventus and Real Madrid. Ole Gunnar Sosjkaer has taken a particular shine to the youngster. Old Trafford officials look willing to part with more than £105million for the player some have enthusiastically referred to as the new Ronaldo.
Until a deal is confirmed and the ink has dried on the contract, we will get to admire Felix’s skills in the twilight of the season. Have stated our case convincingly? If so, you have the chance to pick the striker for your fantasy football draft in FootballCoin for the near future.
