Joao Felix- the next big thing in Portuguese football

Benfica have produced some great players over the years. The club has been credited for the development of players like David Luiz, Angel Di Maria, Nemanja Matic, Bernardo Silva, Jan Oblak and Ederson. All of them are world-class players currently. The Portuguese club has been considered one of the best clubs in the world for nurturing young talented players, hence why, Benfica’s youth team is considered to be one of the best youth teams in the world. Benfica’s youth team has been the runner up of the UEFA Youth League twice in the last five years. They've developed players, who, since the age of 18 have been attracting interest from top European clubs.

Just like David Luiz, Oblak, and Di Maria etc. Joao Felix looks to be the next big thing coming out of the SL Benfica Youth team. The 19-year-old has featured in 9 league games for the senior team this season, scoring 4 and assisting 1. He has already attracted interest from top European clubs like FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. He joined Benfica from Padronese back in 2015. He has also featured for fellow Portuguese rivals Porto for 6 years before joining Padronese. His primary position is a second striker but can certainly play as an attacking midfielder or winger. Last year, he won the Campeonato Nacional de Juniores with Benfica’s youth team last season.

Can Joao Felix follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo?

His style of play is quite similar to FC Barcelona star Phillippe Coutinho. He is very skilful, agile and has an excellent technique on the ball. He has an unreal vision when it comes to setting up goals for his fellow teammates. He has scored a lot of curled strikes, like Coutinho, at the Youth level. He is very skilful and is at his best while playing one-touch football or the tiki-taka system. He has been scouted heavily in the last few years by a lot of clubs who consider him to be the next big thing for Portuguese football after Cristiano Ronaldo has hung up his boots. Even at the age of 19, he is expected to match the greatness of fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo by the end of the career.

Ronaldo came through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon. His consistent performances at both the youth and the senior level earned him a move to Manchester United. Felix is currently on the same path. He has been quite consistent for Benfica at both youth and senior level. It won’t be surprising to see if he earns a move to a top European club in the next few years for a hefty fee.

He has one major weakness in his game, that is, his strength. He needs to work on his physique at this point in time. He is very young and still has a long way to go ahead. He still has a lot of developing to do. He has got enough potential to make him one of the best attackers in the world, in the coming years but has a lot of hard work left to do.

It is reported that Barcelona are plotting a summer move for the Portuguese youngster who will be available for no less than €15 million.