Hugo Felix urges brother Joao Felix to leave Al-Nassr for Europe

Hugo Felix has advised his brother Joao Felix to leave Al-Nassr and return to Europe, saying the Portugal forward should be playing in a major league and competing in the UEFA Champions League.

Joao Felix’s contract with the Saudi Pro League club is due to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, with reports suggesting he could move on during next summer’s transfer window.

Hugo, 22, currently plays for Portuguese club Tondela after leaving Benfica’s reserve team in the summer of 2025. Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, he said he remained close to his brother despite the distance between them.

“My relationship with Joao is very good. It hurts me not to be with him every day, and that is a pain that will always stay with me, but football and life are like that. It is the life we chose,” Hugo said.

“We speak almost every day about everything – his matches, my matches, and whether one of us has suffered an injury. I always try to speak to him because I miss not being able to spend every day together.”

Hugo said Joao regularly offered him support and guidance, including after he suffered an ankle sprain.

“He is not the type to give me harsh advice, but he gives me a lot of advice, both on and off the pitch,” he added.

“Recently, I suffered an ankle sprain and he told me what I needed to do. He is someone I listen to a lot, both because he is my brother and because of his football experience, which only a few players possess.”

Asked about Joao’s future, Hugo said he had already made his views clear.

“We have already spoken about it and I gave him my opinion. He needs to return to Europe as soon as possible,” he said.

“He must continue to be happy, because the most important thing for a player to perform at the highest level is to play with happiness and confidence.”

Hugo added that Joao had shown those qualities since last season, but believed a return to European football would help him progress further.

“He needs to return to Europe to play in a major league and in the Champions League, so he can stand out more than he does now and, of course, win the Champions League, because that is his dream,” he said.

Joao Felix has previously spoken about his ambition to win the Champions League, prompting speculation that he could seek to leave Al-Nassr.

However, Al-Nassr have an option to extend his contract unilaterally for two further seasons, until the summer of 2029. Exercising that clause would require the club to pay Chelsea 20m euros and increase Felix’s annual salary from 10m euros to 12.5m euros.

According to Kooora, Al-Nassr’s administration, led by Ahmed Al-Sultan, is moving to activate the extension and prevent the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, from taking him to Barcelona.

Barcelona’s interest in Felix is reported to have revived, with Mendes expected to explore a free transfer or a nominal-fee move when the mandatory period of the player’s contract ends in the summer of 2027.

Al-Nassr are attempting to resolve financial issues before informing the Saudi Pro League that they can provide the guarantees required for the deal, ahead of the deadline in May.