Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Joao Felix, Italy, AC Milan, Serie A
Josh Lawless
Media in Italy have made their feelings clear on Joao Felix after he made an instant impact on his debut for AC Milan on Wednesday night.
The Rossoneri were incredibly active in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Kyle Walker, Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil.
After joining on a six-month loan deal from Manchester City, the former made his first start in the 1-1 draw against rivals Inter Milan at the weekend.
Advert
But against Roma in the Coppa Italia quarter-final, there were a further three new recruits - including fresh arrivals Felix and Santiago Gimenez - who both lined up on the bench after joining late in the window.
Tammy Abraham scored twice against his parent club in the first half after being set up by Theo Hernandez, before Artem Dovbyk reduced the deficit early on in the second half.
Felix and Gimenez both entered the fray just before the hour mark and combined in stunning fashion for the third goal.
Advert
The Mexico international, a €32 million signing from Feyenoord, played Felix through with a defence-splitting pass and the Portugal international, on loan from Chelsea, latched onto it and delivered a delicious chip to open his account for Milan.
Media in Italy couldn't help but get excited by the link-up between the pair of debutants, with Stephen Agresti of Gazzetta dello Sport writing: "They played together for half an hour, a little more, but it was enough to understand that Joao Felix and Gimenez speak the same language: the language of those who know how to play football.
Advert
"Without having ever spent even a minute on the pitch side by side, against Roma the two new Milan strikers looked for each other and soon found each other: a deep touch from the Mexican from Buenos Aires, a chip from the Portuguese, a goal. Everything and immediately. As if they had smelled each other and had sensed, in each other, the right scent. "A play is not enough, a successful action is not enough to celebrate the birth of a couple, but there was a strong feeling that two special types had arrived at San Siro, with the ideal characteristics to be together."
Going into more detail on Felix, Agresti said: "We thought we would find him a little more fearful, insecure, perhaps even cramped. The signal he sent on his debut at Milan was instead the opposite, as if he wanted to break the world: I'll show you who I am. If he can give continuity to these very first minutes, the Rossoneri fans could have found a couple to have fun with."
Advert
Tuttosport led with the headline, "Milan Felix right away, goodbye Roma", while Quotidiano Sportivo simply said, "New Milan paradise. Abraham-Joao, and Roma are out.”
Sergio Conceicao's side are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Empoli, with Felix hopeful of making a first start.