Joao Felix’s relationship with Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone started very brightly, leaving many to wonder where things could have gone wrong for all parties. The coach singled out the then-Benfica star as a player worth taking a chance on, and Atleti forked out a club-record fee for the teenager in the summer of 2019.
Felix hasn’t quite turned heads with his performance, or at least reached the height of a club transfer fee record-holding player. The Portuguese spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, but the London club, under new management, decided against making his move permanent.
Why does Atletico Madrid want to get rid of Joao Felix?
Diego Simeone is one of the most respected managers in Europe for what he’s achieved with an Atletico side that was in the shadow of rival Real Madrid for many years. However, he’s not the best manager to play under, especially for a player as creative as Joao Felix.
Simeone is known for his defensive tactics, with his team usually conceding fewer goals than others on average. This is because the coach prefers to have a strong defense and to hit on a counterattack, hence his obsession with hardworking players – something he doesn’t seem to have found in Joao Felix yet.
Felix is considered a great player that many consider in the same conversations as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. He was one of the liveliest players in the Chelsea squad that finished 12th last season, which makes one wonder why Atletico and Simeone are pushing to get rid of him.
According to Reuters, the Portuguese forward said he joined Chelsea on a six-month loan earlier this year because he couldn’t fit into the playing style of Atletico Madrid. “I had been looking for a change of scenery for some time now because it was difficult for me to get used to the way of playing (in Atletico Madrid),” the former Benfica star told AS in February.
Things seem to have reached a new low between Felix, Simeone, and Atletico Madrid, with the player sending a come-get-me-plea to Barcelona last month after declaring his love for Lionel Messi’s beloved club despite his affiliation with Cristiano Ronaldo. Barcelona may need Felix now after Dembele left the club’s summer transfer plans in tatters, having agreed to move to PSG.
Which Saudi club is interested in signing Joao Felix?
Al-Hilal is reportedly in the mix to sign Felix from Atletico Madrid, even if it’s on a one-year loan, giving the club and the player the break they need. Atletico are looking to recoup what they paid for Felix four years ago, but Barcelona won’t pay that much, not even for a player with a potential bright future.
Al Hilal approached João Félix 🚨🇸🇦
Saudi side prepared to offer even 1 year loan; player decides.
Understand Jorge Jesus called João several times.
Player’s priority remains Barcelona and Europe.
…but Al Hilal becomes option as one thing is sure: he will NOT stay at Atléti. pic.twitter.com/Q3dQaZnbY2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2023
If Felix were to move to Saudi Arabia, he might need some convincing from his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, who has credited himself with the league’s power to attract big-name players since he moved to the Middle East in January.
However, Felix is reportedly not interested in the move, which is understandable considering his age. He won’t be the first young player to reject a move to the Gulf country. Kylian Mbappe also rejected a bumper one-year deal to join the Saudi Pro League last month.
Where could Joao Felix end up this summer? Let’s get a conversation going in the comments!
