Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has insisted that Joao Félix remains important to them amid speculation linking the Portuguese youngster to a move away from the La Liga club.
Several clubs have been linked to Joao Felix’s move, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who has not been a regular starter at Atletico Madrid this season.
The Portuguese international has played 18 games with Atlético de Madrid in the 22/23 season, but only nine of them have been as a starter. The rest were appearances from the bench.
The executive president of Atlético de Madrid, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, recently admitted that Joao Félix could leave the club. One of the reasons that Gil Marín cited to suggest that the two parties could separate was the relationship between Diego Simeone and Joao Félix.
Read more: Premier League trio in talks with Atlético Madrid over Félix loan
“He is important to the team” – Diego Simeone on Joao Félix amid transfer speculation
However, Diego Simeone has played down suggestions of a break between him and Joao Félix. The Atlético de Madrid manager insisted that Joao Félix remains important to the club when speaking to the media on Wednesday.
“What matters to me is the team and he is important to the team. If he does for us what we saw in the World Cup, it will be very important. He has the talent and the team needs his qualities”, said Diego Simeone.
“Since I’ve been at the club there are some differences between people and we can’t agree on everything. [but] I have looked for the best for the club until the last day, be it me or the footballers. They all do their best.”
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly held talks with Atletico Madrid last week over a potential loan deal for Joao Felix. However, a stumbling block in any potential deal is Atlético Madrid’s desire to recoup as much as possible of the amount they spent to sign Joao Félix, 90min reports.
Atlético Madrid signed Félix from Benfica for a €126m transfer fee, making the Portuguese attacker the most expensive signing in the LaLiga club’s history.
90min is reporting that Atletico Madrid want to include a permanent transfer clause worth around £100m in any loan deal for Felix. It has proven problematic for Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
