Joao Felix’s loan stint at FC Barcelona has gotten off to an impressive start. There is a growing interest within the club to make this loan arrangement a permanent one in the upcoming season.
According to reports from Spain, Atlético Madrid, the club Joao Felix originally belonged to, could ask for a hefty $85 million to part ways with the talented Portuguese player. It’s important to mention that Barcelona is not obligated to buy Felix as part of the loan deal. However, they plan to engage Atlético Madrid in negotiations during the next summer transfer window.
When it comes to these negotiations, Atlético Madrid holds the upper hand. This is primarily due to Felix’s outstanding performance in the current season, catching the attention of several other teams who might also vie for his talents.
🚨🚨🌕| The early signs are that Atletico Madrid would want around €80M for João Félix. @ffpolo pic.twitter.com/ShiNAAQWHq
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) September 22, 2023
Among these interested parties, Liverpool is one notable contender, especially if Mohamed Salah decides to make a move to the Saudi Pro League next summer. Interestingly, Felix’s name had come up as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah during the recent summer transfer window. However, Salah’s transfer to Saudi Arabia did not come to fruition.
The dilemma facing Barcelona is that if Felix continues to excel throughout the season, Atlético Madrid’s asking price is likely to increase. Barcelona’s only real bargaining chip in this scenario would be if Felix himself pushes for a permanent move back to their squad the next summer.
Joao Felix has already matched his tally at Chelsea in just 142 minutes at Barcelona
Joao Felix’s impact at FC Barcelona has been impressive, matching his goal contributions during his previous loan spell at Chelsea in just 142 minutes on the pitch.
In his recent outings for FC Barcelona in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, the Portuguese forward has found the back of the net three times and provided one assist. These remarkable performances add up to a total of four goal contributions in only two starts for the club.
Lewandowski: “João Félix thinks like an offensive player. He plays forward and creates spaces with or without the ball. He is always looking to get forward, so I have to be ready.” pic.twitter.com/T9LWg2a6WD
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 19, 2023
To put this into perspective, during his loan spell at Chelsea, Joao Felix made 20 appearances in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, but he could only manage to score four goals throughout 1,187 minutes of play.
Part of Joao Felix’s early success at FC Barcelona can be attributed to the departure of Ansu Fati to Brighton, which opened up opportunities for him to feature prominently on the left wing. His partnership with Robert Lewandowski, who has praised his ability to create space both with and without the ball, has been a key factor in his attacking prowess.
Notably, with Ferran Torres also hitting a good run of form for FC Barcelona, the team has significantly bolstered their depth in the wing positions, providing more options and a greater attacking threat.