Why did Atletico Madrid let Joao Felix leave?

• Atletico Madrid saw Joao Felix as a player who had the potential to take the club to the next level when they signed him from Benfica. 
• Surprisingly, the player who was expected to take Atletico far has only started 42 per cent of their games since his arrival.
• Diego Simeone always thought that Joao Felix’s price tag would work against him because expectations would be very high.

Back in 2019, Atletico Madrid made Joao Felix the biggest investment in their history by paying 127 million euros for his transfer. 

The Spanish giants believed paying the huge amount for the youngster was sound business since he had shown off his talent while playing in Portugal.

Joao Felix. Photo/ beIN SPORTS.

Joao Felix scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 26 Primeira Liga games for Benfica, helping the team win the 2018-29 title. 

Atletico Madrid saw Felix as someone who had the potential to take the club to the next level, and that’s why they offered him a seven-year contract.

Surprisingly, the player who was expected to take Atletico far has only started 42 per cent of their games since his arrival. Clearly, things didn’t go as planned. What happened? 

To understand why Joao Felix has not realized his potential with Atletico Madrid, it is important to consider how he sees football. 

During an interview with The Players’ Tribune in Portugal, Felix said he loved playing wonderful, happy football. 

“The ball, she is precious. She is a gift. A gift to you, a gift to me. As I grew as a man, and as a player, I realized that’s what I loved – to have the ball and to play wonderful, happy football. That’s when I am at my best, that’s when I am me.” Felix told The Players’ Tribune. 

In short, Joao Felix is an elegant player who loves to have the ball. On the contrary, his manager at Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, prefers to control the ball without the ball rather than with it. 

Well, this looked like an awkward marriage, and so it turned out to be. Diego Simeone prefers forwards who are diligent defensively and disciplined. 

When It Started To Break Up 

As per BBC Sports, Joao Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes had been warned that Diego Simeone is not the right manager to give a young promising player. 

Diego Simeone always thought that Joao Felix’s price tag would work against him because expectations would be very high. 

Felix was only precious to Diego Simeone in the first three months of the 2020-21 season. Afterwards, things have never been smooth between the two, even though Atletico Madrid won the 2020-21 La Liga title. 

Simeone feels Joao Felix does not have the right attitude. He has not sacrificed himself defensively as the manager wants. And as a result, Simeone believes that the only superstar he has in his team is Antoine Griezmann. 

The relationship between Diego Simeone and Joao Felix completely broke last autumn. Simeone did not like Joao’s attitude when he was with or without the ball.

Joao Felix and Diego Simeone. Photo/ Forbes.

After starting in seven of the first eight games, Joao Felix stopped being a regular in Diego Simeone’s team. The Portugal international told his agents that he wanted to leave. 

During an interview with YouTuber Adri Contreras, Joao Felix answered “Pass” when asked who he thought was the best manager. 

The young forward soon began showing his dissatisfaction after not starting against Sevilla and Club Brugge. In the return game against Club Brugge, he warmed for more than thirty minutes and never came on despite being asked to prepare twice. 

Felix threw his bib to the floor, and after the game, Diego Simeone had something to say. 

“While I am here, decisions are based on performances. Joao played every time he was in a good condition.” Diego Simeone said, as per BBC Sports. 

During a crucial Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, Joao Felix was on the bench. His side was knocked out, and at this time, his relationship with Simeone had completely deteriorated. 

Why Did Atletico Madrid Let Joao Felix Leave? 

Atletico Madrid CEO Gil Marin has tried all possible ways to address the issue between Joao Felix and Diego Simeone. 

However, he has not succeeded, which is why he opened the door to a sale in December. The CEO said that they are ready to negotiate if a good offer arrives for Joao Felix since “the relationship between the manager and the player is not the best”. 

But since no club was willing to pay the 100 million euros Atletico Madrid wanted, a loan deal was seen as the better option. 

Joao Felix joined Chelsea on loan a few days ago and already made his debut on Thursday night in a 2-1 loss to Fulham.

Joao Felix saw red on his debut.|PHOTO: Getty|