Atletico Madrid president suggests Joao Felix will STAY at the club past the end of January despite interest from Man United in a £9.5m loan move… but he admits ‘nothing is impossible’
- Joao Felix has been heavily linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid
- Man United are the front runners as they look to replace Cristiano Ronaldo
- Atleti President Enrique Cerezo has now hinted the forward will not leave
- He expects Felix to stay in Madrid but added ‘nothing is impossible’
Enrique Cerezo, the Atletico Madrid President, has said he expects Joao Felix to stay at the club past the end of January despite interest from elsewhere and a souring relationship with manager Diego Simeone.
Felix has been heavily linked with Manchester United, with Atleti believed to have demanded a £9.5 million loan fee with a £70m commitment to buy clause, with Arsenal also believed to be interested.
United’s interest is so strong that they have refused to offer fellow target Wout Weghorst the number seven in preparation for Felix’s potential arrival.
Young forward Joao Felix has been heavily linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid
Erik ten Hag’s Man United are the front runners as they look to replace Cristiano Ronaldo
Cerezo was less confident of a move for the the 23-year-old. In quotes carried by the Manchester Evening News, he said: ‘Nothing is impossible in life, but the normal thing is that Joao Felix stays at Atletico Madrid.’
Felix arrived in Madrid for a huge £113 million in 2019 and has had some excellent moments for the club, but his relationship with Simeone is believed to have soured following disagreements over his playtime.
Atleti CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has admitted the pair do not see eye to eye, as he told TVE last month: ‘For reasons it isn’t worth getting into – the relationship between him and the boss [Simeone], the minutes played, his motivation right now.
Felix is believed to have fallen out with Atletico manager Diego Simeone (pictured)
‘It makes you think if there’s a reasonable option that’s good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it. I’d love for Joao to continue, but this is the current situation.’
Whatever his current club’s intentions, United will be desperate to…