The Portuguese leaves Atlético and signs with Barça on the last market day; Ansu’s departure for Brighton, key.
Joao Félix leaves Atlético de Madrid on the last day of the summer market. The Portuguese has not been able to demonstrate his full potential in the Rojiblanca entity and his departure was announced on Friday, September 1. The new destination? FC Barcelona, exactly as he wanted. Previously, the Madrid club extended him until 2029, cutting his salary so that the Catalans can pay their bill and comply with the ‘Financial Fair Play’.
Ansu Fati’s departure to Brighton, England, was the missing piece in the puzzle. If he did not go to Barça, Félix had the offer to go to Arabia until September 20. Last Friday, Joao landed in Barcelona with Jorge Mendes, his agent, to finalize the details and sign with the Catalans. It is about a simple transfer, without an option to buy, and where the culés take over the footballer’s file. They will not pay Atlético for the transfer.
Signing Joao Félix for FC Barcelona: why he is leaving Atlético de Madrid, contract years, salary, loan costs and number
In the last winter market, Joao Félix was transferred to Chelsea so that he could develop his football better, although he also failed to show his best version. For this reason, the Portuguese’s name was once again one of the key players in the current transfer window, as Simeone had to decide whether to have him in the squad or find another loan for him. The latter was chosen. He had no minutes, neither in pre-season nor in Atleti’s three games of league play.
According to ‘El Desmarque’, Atlético de Madrid last July asked Joao Félix to publicly retract some statements in which he assured that “playing for Barcelona would be a dream”. These words did not sit well with the rojiblanca entity; Neither in the board nor in the locker room. It was clear that both sides favored the departure of the Portuguese in this transfer market.
The first possibility was to transfer it; but there was a problem. Simeone’s men would not accept anything under 80 million euros and at the moment no club is willing to pay that amount for the Portuguese. On the other hand, there was also the possibility of a transfer. It was the most feasible and in which FC Barcelona could come into play. It was what eventually happened.
On August 31, during the draw for the group stage of the Champions League, Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid, was consulted in “Movistar” about the future of Joao Félix, to which he replied: “Today it still belongs to Atlético. We wait to see how this problem is resolved and wait 48 hours. You’ll know soon. He wants to go to Barcelona, he has already said it, and we wait to see if they decide or not. More offers? There are always offers for the big players”.
The dressing room of Atlético de Madrid was very angry about the attitude of Joao Félix. Since returning from his loan at Chelsea, he hasn’t done much to fit in with ‘Cholo’ Simeone’s squad, but his words against Fabrizio Romano added the finishing touch. The Portuguese told the journalist specialized in transfers his desire to play for FC Barcelona. His colleagues are not surprised by his attitude, but they do not like his behavior either.
It was a bomb that released Romano. “I would really like to play for Barcelona,” he said. “Barcelona has always been my first choice and I would really like to work at Barca,” he said. “It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
Official statement from Atleti:
“Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement on the loan of João Félix until the end of the current season. Similarly, the Portuguese striker has extended his relationship with our club for two more seasons, until June 2029.
João Félix arrived at Atlético de Madrid in the summer of 2019 at the age of 19, coming from Benfica, and as a rojiblanco, he made 131 official appearances in total, scoring 34 goals and distributing 18 assists. Seven of those goals and six of those passes came in the 2020/21 season, helping to clinch the 11th league title in our history before being loaned out to Chelsea in the second half of last season.
From Atlético de Madrid we wish him the best of luck and that this season will help him grow as a footballer.”
Barcelona Declaration:
“FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid have agreed on the loan of player João Félix until June 30, 2024. There is no purchase option.
The Club publicly expresses its gratitude to the player for the financial effort and his desire to wear the Barça shirt.
His performance at the highest level was spectacular. Having made his first-team debut for Benfica at the age of 18 at the start of the 2018-19 season at the start of the 2018-19 season, he quickly found a place with the Las Águilas midfielder and was the big sensation of the course.
In the Portuguese league, which he eventually won, for example, he finished fourth top scorer with fifteen goals and completed this with seven goal assists. Across all competitions, he played a total of 43 games and amazed the entire football world with his talent and creativity in the last third of the field. That great season even earned him the Golden Boy Award, which Pedri and Gavi went on to win.
Extensive experience in Spanish football After these great performances, Atlético de Madrid made him the most expensive signing in the history of the mattress club. And since that summer of 2019, João Félix has more than a hundred games to his name at Atlético de Madrid, a total of three and a half seasons, since last year he also had an adventure in the Premier under the management of Chelsea, who has his assignment for the second part of the course.
Now, still 23 years old, and having expressed his wish to play for Barcelona, he will be able to fulfill it to demonstrate his talent.”
Source: Goal