Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has urged Portuguese attacker Joao Felix to leave Stamford Bridge for good as he continues to struggle to make an impact in his career.

The 25-year-old, currently on loan at AC Milan, has endured another underwhelming spell following a disappointing stint at Chelsea.

Felix was once hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young stars, but his career has stagnated in recent years, with Desailly suggesting a lack of “character” is holding him back.

“Joao Felix is a player with great talent, but he has still not found his place,” Desailly told Milan Presse. “He’s been at Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, now Milan, without making any real impact.”

Felix joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid for £45 million last summer, but he made just three Premier League starts before being shipped off to Italy in January. Milan, who are under no obligation to buy Felix permanently, are reportedly not interested in pursuing a deal—adding more uncertainty to the Portuguese international’s future.

Desailly, a World Cup winner and iconic figure at Stamford Bridge, didn’t hold back in his assessment of Felix’s current struggles and believes it’s time for the forward to find a club that suits his style and personality.

“At this moment of his career, he needs a club with a clear philosophy that can build its project around him, put him at ease to express his potential that we still haven’t really seen. I would suggest Paris Saint-Germain.”

For all of Felix’s technical gifts, Desailly insists that it’s not ability that’s the issue, but the mental side of the game.

“What Joao Felix lacks is not technique, but character. He is not a leader. At this moment, he is not what Milan need, because he lacks the mental strength to revive the Rossoneri. And vice versa.”

Desailly’s brutally honest assessment will likely ring alarm bells for Chelsea fans who had once hoped Felix could be a long-term solution in attack. With Chelsea now rebuilding under Enzo Maresca, it seems unlikely that Felix will be reintegrated into the squad, especially with doubts over his mentality and ability to thrive under pressure.

Felix’s story has become a cautionary tale—one of undeniable flair but unrealised potential.