Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has refused to rule out Joao Felix’s exit amid his limited playing time.
The Portuguese joined the La Liga giants for a staggering £113 million from Benfica in 2019, but he has not made a significant impact.
The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of his quality, but he has yet to find the consistency to emerge as a world-class player for Atletico.
Felix has experienced a tough third season amid injuries and fierce competition for places. He has been restricted to just six starts so far.
Speaking in a press conference, Simeone said he is open to everything regarding Felix but added that he is an integral part of the team.
He said: “I always understand everything – I’m open to everything. The most important thing is the team. Joao is an important piece of our team.”
Simeone followed up by saying that Felix is a ‘great player’ and urged him to replicate his cameo performance from the Madrid derby last weekend.
Football Today verdict:
Atletico took a massive gamble with Felix two years ago, and it has not paid off with the youngster yet to deliver regular goal contributions for them.
An ankle injury disrupted his start to the campaign, and he has since struggled to nail down a regular starting role with the vast competition for places.
Luis Suarez has been an undisputed starter after his heroics last term. Antoine Griezmann has also been a regular starter after his surprise return.
On top of this, Matheus Cunha has also hit form in recent weeks. Felix will need to do the hard yards and may need to impress Simeone off the bench.
There are no offers for Felix, and Atletico would make a significant loss if they sell him. They are likely to back the attacker to come good.
