Joao Felix 'dreams' of Barcelona transfer

Stuart Telford

• 15 Jul 2023 20:42 BST
• 3 min read

Joao Felix has no intention for settling for a step down in his career following his indifferent loan spell at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid last season.

Felix joined Chelsea on loan in January for €11 million with a view to making the move permanent this summer, but after a return of just four goals in 20 games, the Blues baulked at extending his stay, and he returned to Atletico.

The Portuguese's problem is that Diego Simeone no longer wants to work with him, and Antoine Griezmann was recently handed Felix's No.7 jersey at the Wanda Metropolitano.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: PSG expect to sign Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix

But Felix remains a talented player, and the second-most expensive teenager of all time after Kylian Mbappe, and he would rather inherit the Frenchman's role at Paris Saint-Germain, or realise "an impossible dream" of playing for Barcelona, than take a step down in his career.

PSG or Barcelona?

"[Felix] is one of the players the Ligue 1 champions have on their agenda to replace a hypothetical departure of Mbappe [to Real Madrid] or Neymar," report AS.

"If PSG is where Joao Felix wants to continue his career this summer, Barcelona is an impossible dream - for now. The Portuguese longs to one day be a Barca player but their financial troubles have left that wish unfulfilled."

READ: Simeone makes big statement on Joao Felix's future

Barca and Atletico reportedly had a deal agreed for Felix's transfer agreed in 2022 before Atleti reneged. They also knocked back an €80m bid from Chelsea last winter before the Blues went for that loan deal instead.

Atletico extended Felix's contract until 2027 as he left for Stamford Bridge, but they will now struggle to recoup as much of the €126m they paid Benfica for his services in 2019.

Felix is valued at €45.3m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm - an amount Barca can scarcely afford, hence that particular dream being "impossible".