Real Madrid's encounter with Benfica tonight has many interesting subplots not least Jose Mourinho coming up against his former employers. The Portuguese coach is in charge of the Eagles who face a Los Blancos side in fine form.
Mourinho will lock horns with Alvaro Arbeloa a player he managed during his reign at the Estadio Bernabeu. The pair have waxed lyrical about one another ahead of the game, showing the enormous respect they share.
Alvaro Carreras will also play against his former club after joining Madrid from Benfica last summer. He was one of Liga Portugal's standout performers last season but perhaps there hasn't been a bigger prospect than Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal teammate who ended up at Atletico Madrid.
Guti urged Real Madrid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate
Joao Felix was the world's most coveted teenager back in 2019 and he had already caught the eye of many in the game while at Benfica. He won the Golden Boy award later that year but failed to replicate his stunning start in his homeland while in Spain.
Real Madrid legend Guti once revealed that he had advised the club to swoop for Felix two years before he headed to the Wanda Metropolitano in an €126 million deal. The former Spanish midfielder said (via Sportskeeda):
"I told Real Madrid to keep track of Joao Felix in 2017. He was ridiculous in Youth League, he was destroying everyone."
Felix was simply sensational during his time at Benfica, posting 20 goals and 11 assists in 43 games. Many expected him to become an all-time great but his move to Atleti proved to be the wrong decision as he wasn't a good fit for Diego Simeone's brand of football.
The Portuguese attacker's career has nosedived ever since his record-breaking transfer but he is now in the Saudi Pro League with Ronaldo. It would have been interesting to see if he would have fulfiled his potential had he ended up at the Bernabeu.
Joao Felix wanted to be like Ronaldo
Felix had the world watching his every move in the late 2010s amid his meteoric rise at Benfica. Some were even convinced he would become Ronaldo's heir and that he could even win a Ballon d'Or.
The Portugal international spoke at the time of his move to Atleti about comparisons with the Real Madrid icon. He explained why he wanted to be like the legendary forward (via beIN Sports):
"Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or trophies and this is the dream of every player. Obviously, I would like to be like Cristiano."
Felix not only played for Real's Madrid rivals but also their El Clasico foes Barcelona when he spent a season on loan with the Catalans. He fared well in Catalonia but didn't convince the club to sign him permanently.
His move to Al-Nassr last summer speaks volumes of his fall from grace given he is still only 26. He's been prolific in the Saudi Pro League, posting 19 goals and eight assists in 27 games across competitions this season.