Atletico Madrid are reportedly not prepared to let Joao Felix join Barcelona this summer despite the recent speculation surrounding a potential switch to Camp Nou.
The Portugal international told Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano earlier this summer that he 'dreams' of representing the Catalan outfit, and the La Liga champions are in the market for a new forward following the recent departure of Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain.
According to AS, Felix has rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal, as he is only interested in moving to Barcelona this summer.
The report claimed that the forward was close to joining Xavi's side on an initial loan move, which would include the option to make the deal permanent during next summer's transfer window.
However, according to journalist Ruben Uria, suggestions that a deal to take Felix to Barcelona is close are untrue.
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Uria, via his official Twitter account, claims that Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is not prepared to let the Portuguese move to a domestic rival this summer.
There is allegedly no way back in terms of the relationship between Felix and Atletico head coach Diego Simeone, which is believed to have broken down towards the end of last year.
The 23-year-old made a big-money move to Atletico in the summer of 2019, and he has represented his current side on 131 occasions, scoring 34 goals and registering 18 assists in the process.
Felix spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, finding the back of the net four times in 20 appearances, but the Blues turned down the chance to sign him on a permanent deal.
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The forward signed a new deal at Wanda Metropolitano before his departure in January, with his contract in the Spanish capital due to run until June 2027.
Felix was an used substitute in Atletico's first match of the new La Liga season against Granada on Monday night, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the Red and Whites.
Barcelona are not in a position to sign the forward on a permanent basis this summer due to their financial problems, but there had allegedly been hope that a loan move could be agreed.
Felix is not expected to remain at Atletico past the transfer deadline, so there could be a resolution over the next couple of weeks, with the player thought to be more determined than ever to join Xavi's side.
Matt Law
