December 07, (THEWILL) – Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid striker, is unhappy at the club and his agents are negotiating a possible transfer for the 22-year-old.
Felix, the club’s record acquisition after his €127 million move from Benfica in 2019, has always seemed an odd fit in Diego Simeone’s defensive system, scoring 20 goals and adding 11 assists in 88 games for Atleti.
But, Felix believes he will never be able to perform at his best under Simeone and is pondering his future at the club, despite Atletico’s adamant opposition to his departure.
Felix is under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until the summer of 2026, so Atletico are not concerned about losing him at the moment, but Felix’s agents are working to find a method to get him out of the club.
It has been stated that Felix’s intentions could be jeopardised if the La Liga champions fail to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.
Atletico Madrid is in third place in Group B, with four points from five games, and must defeat Porto away from home on Tuesday to join group winners Liverpool in the next round.
Failure to do so would wreak havoc on Atletico’s finances, and while it would not oblige them to sell Felix in order to stay afloat, it would certainly reduce their chances of persuading him to stay.
Los Rojiblancos have been dealing with financial issues for some time, and were thought to be in debt of nearly €1 billion this summer, with Atleti selling almost 33% of the club for €181.8 million to keep them afloat for the time being.
Felix’s agents are keeping an eye on whether the 22-year-old can use the circumstance to locate a new team where he can flourish and show off the qualities that made him a future Ballon d’Or winner just a few years ago.
Barcelona had been associated with Felix for some time, with Antoine Griezmann’s future being linked with Felix’s before the Frenchman returned to Atletico in the summer.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
