Rubén Uría , a journalist from ElDesmarque, has brought to light an uncomfortable truth about Joao Félix , a player whose signing for Atlético de Madrid has not gone as many expected. The arrival of the Portuguese in 2019 for 127 million euros was seen as a revolutionary move for the club. However, five years later, the situation is very different.
Uría points out that one of the main problems was the lack of harmony between Simeone's defensive and physical style and the creative and offensive profile of Joao Felix . From the beginning, expectations were enormous, and although Joao had flashes of brilliance, he never managed to establish himself as the decisive player that the club had imagined.
The words of Joao Félix, the breaking point
According to Rubén Uría , one of the keys to Joao Félix 's failure at Atlético de Madrid was his own lack of connection with the club's project. The Portuguese's statements before his loan to Barcelona in 2023 were the point of no return. Joao publicly expressed his desire to play for Barcelona, calling it his "dream since he was a child."
Joao 's time at Barcelona didn't change things much. Although he had some good moments, the striker never really gelled or met the high expectations that surrounded him. After his return to Atlético, the situation became unsustainable, and both the club and the player began to look for a permanent exit.
Simeone and the incompatibility with Joao Félix
Diego Simeone has always been known for his rigorous tactical approach and his preference for players who fit into his system. In that sense, Joao Felix always seemed like an out-of-place piece in Cholo's scheme . Ruben Uria points out that, over the years, Simeone and Joao Felix never managed to find a proper harmony.
This lack of compatibility was reflected in Simeone 's decisions, who often relegated Joao to the bench in important matches. This situation caused growing frustration in the striker, who did not hesitate to express his desire to leave the club to seek opportunities where he could feel more comfortable on the field. The first attempt to break away was his loan to Chelsea, where he also failed to settle.
The future of Joao Félix and the blow to expectations
Rubén Uría points out that, for Joao Félix , the summer of 2023 was decisive. After his return from Barcelona, the player knew that he had no future at Atlético Madrid. The words and attitudes he had shown in the past weighed too much and had eroded any chance of redemption. The tension between Simeone and the player was evident, and both knew that a definitive separation was best.
Finally, Joao 's fate will be once again at Chelsea, in an operation in which the English team would pay around 50 million euros. Joao Félix says goodbye to Atlético leaving a bittersweet taste. Despite his undeniable talent, his time at the club will be marked as a signing that, in the eyes of many, should never have been made.