Joao Felix, valued at around €75–80 million by Atletico Madrid, is ready to reject other suitors to complete a permanent move to Barcelona.
Joao Felix Dreams of Permanent Contract
Felix is reportedly committed to completing a permanent relocation to Barcelona, citing a story published by the Spanish publication SPORT. In order to close the transaction next year, the 23-year-old is prepared to reject advances from other bidders. But it might not be easy to reach a deal because Atletico Madrid is requesting between €75 and €80 million to let go of the player.
When Joao Felix first made waves at Benfica, his talent and potential were far higher than they are now. As a young sensation in his native Portugal, the international player had the world at his feet. But his decision to sign for Atletico Madrid proved to be counterproductive to his development, as Diego Simeone’s coaching staff was unable to maximize his potential.
Madrid is Nightmare
Joao Felix struggled to establish his influence at the Madrilenian club and hardly made any progress. He returned to Atletico Madrid this past summer after a failed loan stint at Chelsea. But a confrontation with Simeone signaled the end of his career as a Los Rojiblancos regular.
The Colchoneros tried to sell Felix during the summer transfer window. However, Manchester United and other Premier League teams declined to sign him. The Portuguese forward, meanwhile, was adamant on playing for his ideal team, Barcelona. And this past summer, the Blaugrana showed genuine interest in him.
Barcelona will TRY
Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial problems, concluding a permanent arrangement proved impossible. However, it took a long time for the two sides to come to an agreement on the terms of the loan before the deadline. With three goals and three assists in eight games, the youngster has established himself at the Catalan club right away.
Barcelona will, however, prefer to close Felix’s permanent contract during the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old is also prepared to turn down other suitors in order to finalize a permanent transfer early in 2019. But Barcelona has challenges since Atletico Madrid is demanding a fee of €75–80 million.
The defending La Liga winners cannot afford to spend between €75 and €80 million to sign Joao Felix to a long-term contract. It would be intriguing to watch if Atletico Madrid lowers their asking price or finds another way to get rid of the player.
