João Félix is criticized for his mismanaged career: “He hasn’t played football for a long time”

Agent Jen Mendelewitsch criticizes the Portuguese forward’s trajectory as move to Al-Nassr nears completion

João Félix is once again at the center of controversy following harsh criticism from FIFA agent Jen Mendelewitsch, who has openly questioned the direction of the player’s career. In an interview with RMC Sport, Mendelewitsch accused the Portuguese international of mismanaging his career and prioritizing the wrong opportunities, describing him as a “money-printing machine.”

“João Félix hasn’t played football for a long time. He’s a printer. A money-printing machine,” she said. “He should be in charge of his own career and not allow others to guide him.”

Félix’s upcoming move to Al-Nassr sparks fresh scrutiny

The remarks come just as Félix prepares to complete a €30 million move to Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club home to Cristiano Ronaldo. The deal reportedly includes a €10 million annual salary and a potential contract extension beyond the initial two years.

According to Mendelewitsch, the move marks another detour away from fulfilling the early promise Félix showed at Benfica.

“Going to Atlético Madrid for €126 million was a mistake. Then Chelsea spent another €50 million… It’s one poor decision after another,” she stated.

Agent calls for a Benfica return

Rather than continuing in the Middle East, Mendelewitsch believes Félix would be better served by returning to his roots at Benfica, where he first made headlines as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.

“When you see his potential, it’s sad. It would be more beneficial to return to Benfica and reconnect with his football,” she added.

A career of flashes but no consistency

Since his record-breaking transfer to Atlético Madrid in 2019, Félix has struggled to find consistency. Under Diego Simeone, the forward never fully integrated into the system, leading to loan spells at Chelsea, Barcelona, and Milan all of which failed to establish him as a regular starter.

Despite brief moments of brilliance, Mendelewitsch believes the 24-year-old has failed to take advantage of elite-level opportunities.

“Everyone is to blame, including him,” she concluded. “He had good moments at Barcelona with Xavi, but he didn’t make the most of them. These are big clubs. The only thing left to see is whether he still wants to truly revive his career.”