REVEALED: Why Atletico are also celebrating Joao Felix's Barca goals
FT Desk
- 7 Oct 2023 16:45 BST
- 3 min read
Atletico Madrid fans may not enjoy watching Joao Felix get back to top form while wearing a rival shirt, but the club's administration are more than happy to see him shine for Barcelona.
Felix struggled to find his best football at the Wanda Metropolitano after joining from Benfica in 2019 for a mammoth €126 million fee.
The Portugal international netted just 34 times in 131 games for Atletico in all competitions and was eventually declared surplus to requirements, while a loan spell at Chelsea at the start of 2023 also fell flat.
Since clinching his "dream move" to Barca, however, Felix has looked like a different player entirely.
The 23-year-old, who took a sizeable pay cut to clinch the loan transfer, scored his side's only goal midweek against Porto to seal a crucial Champions League win and bring his own tally up to three in seven games, also contributing two assists.
While it will bring Atletico little joy to see their loanee thrive at Camp Nou, there could be significant consolation for the club if his fine form continues.
Atletico delighted at Felix impact
According to AS, the Colchoneros hope to recoup up to €80 million of that giant initial investment next summer by selling Felix, be it to Barca on a permanent deal or elsewhere.
His performance, perhaps most crucially in front of goal, will be key to their chances of meeting that lofty target, meaning there is no shortage of incentive to cheer him on even if he is netting for one of Atletico's biggest rivals and a fellow title contender.
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It would above all vindicate their summer decision to keep Felix in La Liga at a time where the forward had few suitors at the top level.
Atletico also fielded a lucrative loan offer, AS reports, from an unnamed Saudi club which was prepared to pay €15m for a one-year switch.
But fearing that a move to the Pro League would ultimately diminish Felix's value the club instead turned to Barca, and so far the move seems set to pan out for all concerned if it ends with a big transfer fee entering the Atleti coffers.
