Now with Al Nassr, Felix claimed yesterday that he attempted to engineer a return to Benfica for the past three seasons.
"I'm really sorry João said something like that - for him too," said Rui Costa.
"If it was Benfica's will ... with what Benfica put on the table to bring him to Lisbon, he would have already been to Benfica three years ago. It wouldn't be this summer.
"I don't want to dwell too much on that aspect, because I always want great respect for João. He is a hometown player – a boy we have developed – and I have the utmost respect and devotion for him. I hope that one day he can carry Benfica's jersey.
"I'm really very sorry – for his sake – that he made the statements. He has to explain himself what it means to him that a team or club does everything – or does not do everything – to bring a player home.
"Over the course of these three years, Chelsea, Barcelona, Milan and now Saudi Arabia have probably wanted him more than Benfica. That's possible."