GdS: ‘I’ll be your Kaka’ – how Joao Felix hopes to emulate ‘idol’ at Milan

SempreMilan

·11 Februari 2025

GdS: ‘I’ll be your Kaka’ – how Joao Felix hopes to emulate ‘idol’ at Milan

AC Milan signed Joao Felix on the final day of the winter transfer window meaning he has been at the club for just over one week, but fans already like what they see.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, there are obvious similarities between Joao Felix and Ricardo Kaka, an icon of Milan who was and continues to be adored by supporters.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic responded without hesitation when asked in yesterday’s press conference about who Felix reminds him of: “Kakà. The Brazilian was fluid, dynamic like I see Joao Felix today. Joao likes playing games with the ball more, Kakà was perhaps more clinical.

“But it’s not fair to compare him to others, Felix is a great talent, still young and will make his way here. It’s true that he’s on loan, but if he does well anything is possible.”

It is also possible that he remains beyond the summer, as the player himself hinted: “I feel good here, if there was the possibility of staying I would like to.

“Kaka? He is my favorite player of all time. I never spoke to him about my arrival at Milan, but in the past I met him in the USA and did an interview with him. He’s an idol, I can’t compare myself to him but maybe I could do in Milan what he did.”

Characteristics

But what does Joao Felix have that is like Kakà, apart from – in broad terms – the look? First of all, the role. He is a bit of an attacking midfielder and a bit of a striker.

Ricky started at Milan as a pure No.10 behind Shevchenko and Inzaghi (or Tomasson), then Ancelotti transformed him over time into a sort of second striker, so much so that he won the Champions League with the Brazilian top scorer of the tournament and winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Joao is still far from those levels, especially from the scoring point of view, but with Conceiçao he fluctuates between attacking midfield and striker, playing on Gimenez’s shoulder and then sometimes as a playmaker behind the Mexican.

“I told him that I would like to play in my role, but I will do everything the coach asks of me,” Felix said. On a purely technical level, the comparison is not so crazy. Joao has a Brazilian father and joga bonito is in his blood, meaning flicks and tricks are largely part of the former Benfica player’s repertoire.

The paradox? The Portuguese Joao Felix is less European in football terms than the Brazilian Kakà. And here too Ibra had a point to make, citing Felix’s missed opportunity at the end of the win over Empoli.

“I scolded him, because he had already scored against Roma with the chip and he tried again on Saturday. There you have to score, spells are good once, not always. You have to be ruthless in front of goal and close out the game,” he said.

Where to improve

It is not the only aspect in which, obviously, Joao Felix must chase the former Ballon d’Or winner. Certain limits, such as the progression of the ball at his feet, cannot be overcome for the Portuguese, lighter and less powerful in running than his predecessor in the Rossoneri shirt.

From that point of view, Kakà was unique. Where, however, the former Chelsea player can try to get closer is in efficiency and mentality. If you take away his extraordinary debut season at Benfica, Joao Felix was too erratic with spells where he looked like an elite player and others less successful.

Consistency is a prerogative of great footballers and the Portuguese, if he wants to be considered as such and at least make the comparison with Kakà less daring, must find it again. Milan could be the right environment to do this.

“I immediately loved the atmosphere of San Siro. I didn’t expect such a welcome, the affection of the fans was tangible,” he said. Even if he did half of Kakà’s magic, he would be remembered forever at Milan.