MATT BARLOW: Joao Felix's red card made it a DISASTROUS start to a desperate loan spell at Chelsea… but until then he was all silk and no sulk, looking fresh and hungry freed from the demands of Diego Simeone

There has been a whiff of desperation about Chelsea's pursuit of Joao Felix.

As if they signed him because they could as others queried an investment of circa £15million in fees and wages for only six months of service from a young player with a reputation for sulking.

'Not a normal loan,' noted Fulham boss Marco Silva before kick-off in Thursday night's game, which saw the Cottagers win 2-1. Still, Chelsea long since ceased to operate as a normal club.

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