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Atletico president addresses Joao Felix future amid Manchester United links

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 14 July 2023

Atletico president addresses Felix future amid Man United links

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo plays claims that Joao Felix could leave the Spanish giants this summer amid links with Manchester United.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has played down suggestions that Joao Felix could leave the Spanish giants during this summer's transfer window.

The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, featuring on 20 occasions for the Blues, finding the back of the net on four occasions.

Chelsea decided against signing the Portugal international on a permanent basis, though, and Felix was back in pre-season training with his parent club earlier this week.

Having trained away from the main group on his return, Felix was pictured looking frustrated, while he is also said to have engaged in a tense discussion with Atletico sporting director Andrea Berta.

Felix's relationship with Atletico head coach Diego Simeone is believed to have broken down, leading to suggestions that the Portugal international is unlikely to be a part of the team's squad next term.

Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix on the bench on October 12, 2022 © Reuters

However, Cerezo has said that Felix "is a player much loved by everyone", and the club president is expecting the attacker to remain at Wanda Metropolitano this summer.

"We are happy to have a player of the quality of Joao Felix. Fortunately for us, he plays for Atletico. He is a player much loved by everyone. To this day and until the contrary is proven, he is an Atletico player for many seasons," Cerezo told reporters.

Felix continues to be linked with a return to the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United both believed to be keen to sign him this summer.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Manchester United have opened talks with Atletico over a possible deal for the Portuguese during the current market.

Chelsea's Joao Felix during the warm up before the match on January 12, 2023 © Reuters

Man United are thought to have a long-standing interest in Felix, first being linked with the attacker when he was at Benfica, but Atletico won the race for his signature in the summer of 2019.

The 20-time English champions are also believed to have explored the possibility of signing Felix on loan in January before deciding against a move due to the finances involved.

The Portuguese has represented Atletico on 131 occasions in all competitions, scoring 34 goals and registering 18 assists in the process since his arrival from Portugal.

The forward penned a new deal with the Red and Whites before his loan switch to Chelsea, meanwhile, with his current terms at Wanda Metropolitano due to run until June 2027.

Atletico are due to begin their preparations for the 2023-24 campaign with a friendly against a K-League XI later this month, and it remains to be seen whether Felix features in that particular contest.