Atletico Madrid’s president has admitted that it is ‘very likely’ Joao Felix leaves the La Liga giants with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur tipped to bring the former Chelsea loanee back to the Premier League.
During a miserable season at Stamford Bridge, the contributions of Joao Felix at least gave Chelsea supporters something to smile about. Albeit briefly.
The Portugal international looked a cut above a rather limited lot at times; wonderful goals against West Ham and Manchester United highlighting the outrageous technical ability that once convinced Atletico Madrid to make him the fourth-most expensive footballer of all time back in 2019.
Atletico paid Benfica £112 million for a then-19-year-old Felix.
Diego Simeone’s side will inevitably make a colossal financial loss if the prancing Portugal international moves on for good this summer; Onda Cero reporting that Tottenham may be in contention. Spurs’ former boss, Mauricio Pochettino, has already opted against keeping Felix at Chelsea.
Felix has also been offered to ambitious, deep-pocketed Newcastle and Aston Villa (The Sun and Express).
Joao Felix could return to Premier League
“If there is a team that interests him, it’s very likely he’ll leave,“ Atleti president Enrique Cerezo tells Onda Madrid.
“If not, he is an Atletico de Madrid player. (Felix is) one of the best players in Europe (who) is yet to show his worth, which is a lot.”
Felix has a further four years remaining on his Los Colchoneros contract. It remains to be seen how much Atletico would demand from clubs looking to buy him on a permanent basis. Though Felix is likely to come rather more expensive than some of the other potential ‘number ten’ additions under consideration by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
The Magpies are also keen on Leicester City’s James Maddison, Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga and Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz.
The latter is reportedly available for £25 million after relegation.
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