AC Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic has commented on whether the Rossoneri could make Joao Felix's loan move from Chelsea permanent this summer.
The former Atletico Madrid and Benfica attacker swapped Stamford Bridge for San Siro on deadline day, joining Sergio Conceicao's side on a straight loan deal until the end of the season.
Felix scored on his debut for AC Milan - coming off the bench to net in a 3-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final win over Roma - and he has since started three straight matches for the seven-time European champions.
The Portugal international has failed to add to his goal or assist tally in that time, but he is expected to hold his spot in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League playoff second leg with Feyenoord.
As there is no option or obligation to make Felix's stay permanent, the 25-year-old is due to head back to Chelsea at the end of the season, and his contract with the Blues runs for another six-and-a-half years.
Ibrahimovic: 'Everything is possible with Felix transfer'
© Imago
However, speaking to Sky Italia - as quoted by Fabrizio Romano - Milan chief Ibrahimovic did not rule out the possibility of Felix sticking around at San Siro beyond the end of the season.
"Everything is possible. We wanna trust Joao in order to see his best performances, then everything is possible," the former Rossoneri and Sweden striker said.
Felix first represented the Blues on loan from Atletico during the second half of the 2022-23 season, having seen his relationship with Rojiblancos boss Diego Simeone break down, before moving to Barcelona on a temporary basis last term.
The 25-year-old fulfilled a lifelong dream by pulling on the Barca shirt, but he did not do enough for a permanent move and was offloaded to Chelsea for £43.2m during the last summer window.
Felix has totalled 11 goals and two assists in 40 games for Chelsea over his two separate spells, netting seven times and setting up another pair of goals in 20 matches in the first half of the season.
Could there still be a place at Chelsea for Felix?
© Imago
Felix certainly did not set the world alight during his first spell at Chelsea, only netting four times in 20 matches, and he would not currently be on the books in West London were it not for a panicked summer decision.
Chelsea were hoping to do a deal for then-Atletico attacker Samu Aghehowa last year, a move that would have allowed Conor Gallagher to join Atletico, but the transfer for Samu dramatically collapsed.
Gallagher was therefore left in limbo, as Atletico could not afford both him and Julian Alvarez in the same summer, leading Chelsea to fork out a hefty amount for Felix to ensure that Gallagher could depart.
However, the 25-year-old was evidently not an answer to Chelsea's striker conundrum, will always be behind Cole Palmer in the number 10s' pecking order and has failed to make himself a viable option out wide either.
Unless Felix goes on a phenomenal run in Milan colours over the next few months and carries that form into pre-season, it is difficult to see him making a name for himself in West London.
Ben Knapton
