Joao Felix discusses life away from football, past clubs, first impressions of Milan and Conceicao | OneFootball

Joao Felix has shed some light on how he has settled in at AC Milan so far, as well as sharing information on his life away from football and his previous experiences.

Felix had been spoken about as a target for virtually the entirety of January but always more in the background than the foreground. Then, on deadline day things accelerated quickly and the signing was made official on an initial loan deal.

There has already been talk of a desire to make the move a permanent one and that discussions with Chelsea are planned for the end of the season to work out if there are the margins to do so. In the meantime, Felix is crucial to Sergio Conceicao and continues to start games.

The fans have already seen a flash of brilliant as he scored against Roma in the Coppa Italia on debut. Felix gave an interview to Milan TV as part of the ‘face-off’ series that introduces new signings to the club, and his comments were relayed by MilanPress.

On his debut: “It was a great feeling. Before the match I already had the feeling that I would score, with the help of my teammates I did it and now I have to continue like this to help the team and the club.”

On what makes him happy: “To be happy and in the right state of mind you have to feel loved by people. In the end it’s just about playing in my position, which is the most important thing, and winning.”

On off-field passions: “I watch the NFL. But when I have some free time I like to walk around the city or go out to eat. I love eating, and I’ve been told that the food here is excellent. I also like to play other sports, like padel, golf or tennis.

“NBA? Yes, I follow it, my favorite team is the Miami Heat which has similar colors to those of Milan, but above all for the city: I love Miami.”

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On what his former clubs gave him: “I arrived at Benfica very young, it was my first team and it helped me a lot to feel at ease, it was a great year both on a personal and team level. I moved to Spain when I was still very young, it’s a different country, with a different language.

“I wasn’t used to it. It took me a while to settle in, but then I adapted and the people were fantastic. It was a really good time in Barcelona. I always thought about playing there and I was very happy that year.

“Then at Chelsea, before coming here to Milan, I did well there too. I liked it a lot, just as I loved the Premier League. In general I learned something from every club I’ve been to, and they helped me grow as a person and as a player.”

On what he expects from Milan: “There was a great effort to come here, also from my agent. The Club wanted this transfer anyway and this win-win opportunity was created for both. I hope to be happy here, for now it’s only been six months, but in football you never know. I want to excite the fans.”

On his first impressions of Conceicao: “I know what Sergio is like. He loves football, he has a lot of passion and he loves to win. He knows how to transmit all this to his players and he has done well everywhere he has gone and he will do it here too.”

On Rafa Leao: “We have a good relationship, on and off the pitch. I really like playing with him because he always gives me different options. If I’m under pressure he always gives me an extra option, whether it’s on my feet or in depth and I love playing with him at my side.”

On the relationship he has with his new teammates: “I already knew some of them. In the world of football, we all know each other, and nowadays it is easier to change clubs and receive a warm welcome.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

On Kaka: “For me, Kaka was the biggest idol, ever since I started following football. For the position he played and also his hair. Do we look alike? Yes, I don’t know, but I always liked him and I saw myself in him. I always tried to be like him. He’s one of my idols. I met him once in Orlando.

“When it emerged that I could come here, I thought about taking the number 22, which he wore, but Emerson [Royal] has it and that’s fine too. I had this in mind but the number 79 is fine too.

“What did Kaka tell me when we met? It was a general chat, I had just signed with Atletico and we were doing the pre-season in Orlando. I met him and told him that he was my hero when I was little and we exchanged a few words.”

On the meaning of the number 79: “It was my first professional number, at Benfica, and it’s the one that made me known to the world. I will always love this number. Now my brother also wears it at Benfica, so now we both have it and it’s fantastic.”

On his celebration: “It’s connected to the NBA, more precisely Steph Curry’s “night night”, which I liked. Since no one else in soccer did it, I started using it a few months ago, and I think I’ll continue to use it. Being the Curry of soccer? It would be nice.”

On unknown nicknames: “My circle of close friends calls me Dio [Uncle] Joao because of how I behave with them, because of the rules I give and because sometimes I scold them. I’m a bit like the dad of the group. They call me that because I always scold them.”

Poto by AC Milan

On how his parents’ profession as teachers influence his life: “It had a big impact. My studies always came before football. I always had to do my homework before going to training, otherwise I couldn’t go.

“Since they are teachers, they know what happens at school and they always told me to behave and get good grades. I did that and it was a good education.

“What is our relationship like? Very good, my father stayed in Portugal with my brother and my mother usually always comes with me wherever I go. She comes to all my games, both at home and away. You will see her in every stadium.”

On pre-match routines or habits: “This year I started drinking mate [a herbal drink], as I got along very well with Enzo [Fernandez] at Chelsea this year. He is Argentinian and always drank it, so I started drinking it with him and now I have my own, which he got me in Argentina with my name on it.

“I don’t think it’s anything superstitious, I like the taste and it keeps me awake. It’s great in preparation for a match. Then I call my dad when I’m at the stadium, to tell him I’ve arrived, I tell him what the pitch is like, the atmosphere, if I’m going to play or not.

“He tells me if I have to do something different I wait until the previous match. So yes, just those two things, I think.”

On the city of Milan: “I actually came here at the end of last year, with some friends. I really liked it, as I said before we ate really well. The people are elegant, they dress well. We also went to the Duomo, very beautiful. The people seem really sunny and kind, I think there is a nice culture here and I hope to feel at home.”

On the fans: “I noticed the affection for me from the stands. It was a very nice feeling.”