There have been plenty of ‘worse’ signings in recent years.
But in terms of pure suitability, the deal which made one of the world’s most naturally gifted players the fourth most expensive talent in history surely ranks near the top when discussing the football’s worst fits.
Diego Simeone, the firebrand Atletico Madrid boss who demands remarkable levels of discipline from even his attackers, was – in hindsight – never the right coach to get the best out of the fleet-footed free spirit that is Joao Felix.
It is five years now since Atletico paid an eye-watering £113 million to take the teenager away from Benfica.
After hit-and-miss loan spells at both Chelsea and Barcelona, the prancing Portugal international once again returned to the Wanda Metropolitano at the start of the summer with his future locked in limbo.
And HITC understands that, with offers not exactly flooding in for a player who’s reputation has declined considerably, Aston Villa have emerged as arguably the most likely destination.
Aston Villa could rescue Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid
Unai Emery is a huge fan of Felix – still young at just 24 – with Villa now prepared to make him their best-paid player on £150,000-a-week.
That, however, is still £100,000 less than he earns at Atletico. There is also a further complicating factor in his £50 million price-tag, though Aston Villa have discussed signing Felix on an initial loan deal albeit with a mandatory obligation-to-buy clause included.
Simeone, the living legend who has guided Atletico to two La Liga titles, broke his silence on Felix’s future after the ill-fitting forward scored during the 3-1 friendly win over Getafe over the weekend.
And while Felix stepped onto the pitch amid a chorus of jeers from sections of the Los Colchoneros support – per the Daily Mail – Simeone was keen to point out that, as long as he remains an Atletico player, he will have a role to play.
“He had a good game in those 45 minutes that he had to play against Getafe,” Simeone says, via EuroSport. “He is an Atletico de Madrid player.
“And while he is here, we will value him based on how he works, as we do with everyone who is in the team.”
Felix has been included in Atleti’s latest squad ahead of their clash with Kitchee in Hong Kong.
At his best, Felix is still a genuine match-winner. Someone who can change the balance of proceedings in an instant with one of his trademark thumping shots from long range or a driving run into the final third.
He scored 10 goals while setting up six more at Barcelona last term. A permanent switch to the Camp Nou may also have been on the cards, if it wasn’t for Barca’s well-publicised financial issues.
Villa will have to pay around £50 million
Emery, who came up against Felix in the Villarreal dugout, was asked about Aston Villa’s interest following the 2-0 friendly defeat to RB Leipzig last week.
“Of course, we are always (looking) with the possibility to add players, improving our squad in different positions. We have to be ready to do it,” Emery told the Birmingham Mail.
“With the players we have now, we can sign one or two players more. It depends if someone is leaving.
“The idea is that the structure we have now – even (with) the players we have today and the players coming back – I think we have players that will be competitive this year playing in the Champions League and the other cups we will face.
“Some players we are following in case we have the possibility to sign them. But I don’t want to speak specifically about players.”
HITC understands that Felix had been offered to Manchester City as part of the deal that will take Julian Alvarez in the other direction for £80 million. Talks have not progressed on that proposal, however.
Interestingly, Atletico icon and former Portugal star Paulo Futre claims to have heard that Felix rejected Aston Villa in the summer of 2023.
“The only team that has wanted him was Monchi and Emery’s Aston Villa,” Futre told Cadena Ser, having allegedly discussed Felix’s future with his agent, Jorge Mendes.
“Joao said ‘no’ when there was an agreement between Atleti and Aston Villa at the beginning of July.”
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