Atletico Madrid winger João Félix dropped a bombshell to football journalist Fabrizio Romano.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE — João Félix statement on his future: “I’d love to play for Barça”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2023
◉ “Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barça”.
◉ “It was always my dream since I was a kid”.
◉ “If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me”. pic.twitter.com/3zg9BiCDgO
"I'd love to play for Barça. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I'd love to join Barça. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me," the 23-year-old said.
Félix spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan with Premier League club Chelsea. However, the club did not choose to buy him permanently after a subpar stint, scoring 4 goals in 20 games.
Félix was acquired by Atletico from Benfica in 2019 as a 19-year-old for $140 million, making him the fourth-most expensive player in history.
The Portuguese national won the La Liga title in 2020-21 and was named Atletico Madrid's Player of the Season in 2021-22.
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João Félix's falling out with Diego Simeone
Félix had a public falling out with Atletico manager Diego Simeone during the 2022-23 season.
During the campaign's early stages, Félix fell as the fifth-choice attacker in the team. His relationship with the Atletico boss deteriorated when Simeone sent Félix to warm up thrice during a Champions League fixture in October, but he ultimately did not enter the match.
Atletico's CEO Miguel ángel Gil Marín confirmed the troubled relationship between the two during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and he was sent on loan to Chelsea for the meantime.
The club is looking to sell Félix now, as he is not included in Simeone's 2023-24 season plans.
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