Atletico Madrid reportedly ready to hear offers for Joao Felix

Atletico Madrid is reportedly ready to cash in on Joao Felix ahead of the January transfer period. Cadena SER claims Atletico Madrid transfer listed Felix. Felix previously arrived to the LaLiga club from Benfica in 2019. The deal was valued at well over $100 million.

While Felix has shown glimpses of what he can do on the pitch, he has not exactly been consistent with Atleti. In fact, the Portugal international’s best scoring campaign in Spain has been just eight goals.

Atleti manager Diego Simeone has even benched Felix in hopes that the move will motivate the youngster. The brave move has certainly received media attention in Spain.

Simeone has previously been asked about not playing Felix in more matches. “Do you think I’m not playing Joao to lose? No manager does that,” claimed the coach. “When he starts to play well again in training, he works, he recovers his goalscoring touch, which we need, he will play.”

Felix has only made five LaLiga starts for the club’s 12 matches so far this season. He has even only played a full 90 minutes just once. The former prodigy finally netted his first league goal of the season in late October.

In European play, Simeone has trusted Felix to start a Champions League match just once since September. The forward did not score or assist during the group phase of the competition.

European woes push Joao Felix out of Atletico Madrid

Along with his struggles on the pitch, Atleti could also be willing to part with Felix because of their Champions League struggles. A fourth-place finish in the group knocked the European mainstays out of intercontinental competition. Porto, Club Brugge and Bayer Leverkusen all surpassed Atletico’s five points.

Joao Felix’s potential suitors included Manchester United. The Old Trafford side wanted to bring in the Portuguese this past summer according to reports. Although the Red Devils did not make an official bid for the player, they did supposedly ask Atleti about Felix’s availability. The LaLiga outfit quickly rebuffed United’s requests.

United, and other top teams around Europe, could test Felix’s availability this coming January. The Portugal international is still just 22 and has plenty of time to improve his career.

PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto