"Joao Felix said he was not good"
Benfica youth team coach Rodrigo Magalhaes spoke on a Portuguese Football Federation podcast about Joao Felix. He explained that, when he was starting out, he doubted his talent as a player.
Joao Felix started his career at Benfica. After that, Atletico bought the player for around 120 million euros, but he did not work out under Simeone as expected and went out on loan to Chelsea in the winter transfer window.
Before his breakthrough, the Portuguese wondered if he could be important. This was revealed by Benfica youth team coach Rodrigo Magalhaes on 'Science and Football', a Portuguese Football Federation podcast.
"Many times, Joao Felix said he was no good. He doubted his talent," he said. "He didn't have a presence in the national team until the U18s, he didn't have the contracts that others had and he wasn't soponsored by any brand. He said that this or that had a manager, that he signed a contract...", he continued.
Finally, the player's effort and hard work paid off and the striker had no more doubts: "Afterwards, he had a breakthrough in which everything happened to him: the first team, the national team, the huge move.... It still puts him under a bit of pressure today".