Chelsea striker Joao Félix has retired from the call to face Manchester City this afternoon due to a family duel.
Felix is ready to fly home after the club granted him a compassionate license.
It is possible that he has been in the race to play against City in Etihad, but just a few hours before the game, it was learned that it is no longer available to be selected.
The 25 -year -old returned to the Blues last summer with a permanent contract, after having been given in Stamford Bridge in 2023.
Felix has been limited to only 20 appearances in all competitions this season and has been related to an exit this month, and it is said that several clubs are interested.
Speaking yesterday, the Blues coach, Enzo Maresca, deepened the reasons for the limited game time of Felix this season and described it as “fantastic.”
“Surely Joao is a Chelsea player,” said Maresca.
'The problem, unfortunately for Joao and Christo (Nkunku), is that the coach plays most of the matches with an offensive midfielder and that is Cole Palmer.
“We have decided to play with an offensive midfielder in most matches, so this is the reason why Joao and Christo fight to get minutes, and not for any other reason, because both are fantastic players, fantastic types that work well .
“The reason is only because most matches decide to play with an offensive midfielder in terms of balance. This is the reason. '
When asked if Felix could leave before the transfer window was closed, Maresca added: “I am not saying that, I am not saying that.”
“I am saying that I like both, but the reason they have problems is because most of the time play with an offensive midfielder.”
Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia will also be absent from the 20 -men's team of Chelsea, while Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernández will be called late.