Chelsea outcast scores just 12 minutes into debut after sealing deadline day loan move away from Stamford Bridge
- Joao Felix sealed a loan move from AC Milan to Chelsea on deadline day
- The Portuguese forward needed just 12 minutes into his debut in Italy
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Chelsea loanee Joao Felix scored on his AC Milan debut and Tammy Abraham added two more against his parent club to fire the hosts into the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Roma at San Siro.
Abraham, on a season-long loan from Roma, opened the scoring for the Rossoneri in the 16th minute, and added another three minutes before the break.
Artem Dovbyk clawed one back in the 54th minute for Roma, who also had what would have been a second-half Milan own goal chalked off by VAR.
Felix came off the bench in the 59th minute and combined with fellow Milan debutant Santiago Gimenez to open his account for his new side in the 71st minutes.
It had been an underwhelming second spell in west London for the Portugal international, who since his £46million move in August has largely been limited to substitute appearances in the Premier League, with six of his nine starts coming in cup competitions.
The deal with the Serie A side includes a £5m loan fee and does not come with an obligation to buy. He will link up with the likes of Kyle Walker, who joined the club from Manchester City.
Joao Felix scored just 12 minutes into his debut for AC Milan after sealing a loan from Chelsea
The Rossoneri sealed a 3-1 win over Roma in their Coppa Italia quarter-final clash
He struggled for minutes in the Premier League despite signing a seven-year deal in summer
Head coach Enzo Maresca has repeatedly said chances for the former Barcelona player have been restricted by Cole Palmer, who has started all 24 league games this season in the number 10 position, Felix's preferred role.
He had scored seven goals since rejoining the club for whom he played on loan in the second half of the 2022-23 season.
Of those only one had come in the league, the sixth goal in Chelsea's 6-2 victory away against Wolves on his first appearance back.
He scored four times in the Conference League, helping the team progress to the last 16 in first place, while he also netted twice in the FA Cup third round against Morecambe in January.
Despite arriving to great fanfare following a successful loan spell at Barcelona, the 25-year-old has not settled, with his inconsistent performances when picked reminiscent of his troubled first spell at the club.
