JOAO FELIX: PLAYER PROFILE

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Portuguese forward Joao Felix has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League for a while, but this January Transfer Window could finally see those rumours become reality.
 
The skilful winger has fallen out of favour with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, and Arsenal are one of a number of clubs to register their interest alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United.
 
The most expensive player in Atletico's history, 23 year old Felix started the 2022-23 campaign in fine form, providing a hat-trick of assists in a 3-0 away victory for Atleti against Getafe. In the process, he became just the third Portuguese player to provide three assists in a match in La Liga.
 
However, a dispute with Simeone followed which saw the young prodigy lose his place in the starting line-up, dropping further down the pecking order to the likes of Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata.

 

During the Qatar World Cup, Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil confirmed that “the relationship between him and the club is not good”, sparking strong rumours of a January transfer.
 
Still seen as one of the most talented youngsters in world football, where did Joao Felix’s glistening reputation come from?
 
A product of Portuguese giants Benfica’s Youth Team, Felix broke into the First Team in the 2018-19 season aged just 18 and scored his first professional league goal for the club on the biggest stage of all, in the derby against Sporting Lisbon.

 

Amongst many outstanding displays in his native country, a magnificent hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League saw him make history as he became the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick in the competition aged just 19 years and 152 days.
 
This fine form saw Atletico Madrid fork out an eye-watering £113 million pounds to sign the then teenager in the summer of July 2019.

 

Although named Atletico’s player of the season last year with 8 goals and 4 assists in 24 league appearances, Felix’s time in the Spanish capital divides opinion.

 

There’s no doubt that he’s a game changer, but he has struggled for consistency, perhaps for many reasons.

The youngster has been hyped up by media and fans alike, with the expectations of him extremely high.

 

Under Simeone, Atletico have become somewhat notorious for their defensive approach. Although they have a habit of grinding out results, this style of football is not geared towards getting the best out of free flowing attacking options such as Felix, who often has to rely on counter attacks.

 

BBC journalist David Ornstein reported on Monday that Los Colchoneros are ready to loan Felix with “Arsenal and Man United expressing firm interest”.Renown Italian Journalist Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that the Gunners have “already held talks” with Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes.

 

A potential stumbling block for a move is the hefty loan fee that Atleti are chasing. As reported by Ornstein, Arsenal are currently “no way near the huge €15 million fee plus €6 million wages” that the Spanish club are demanding, although talks are ongoing.

 

Back in October, Simeone admitted that "with Joao, I'm finding it difficult to get the best out of him". Perhaps a more offensive style of football under Mikel Arteta is what's needed in order for the mercurial talent of Joao Felix to truly shine.