Joao Felix Wants FC Barcelona Move: Reports

Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix wants to join FC Barcelona this summer according to AS.

The Portuguese became Atleti’s most expensive player of all time when the outfit from the Spanish capital paid €126 million ($141.5 million) for his services in 2019.

This was the same summer that Barca agreed to pay Felix’s club €120 million ($135 million) for Antoine Griezmann, with the youngster immediately taking the Frenchman’s number 7 shirt.

Four years down the line, though, it is safe to say the big moves haven’t worked out well for either man.

With Griezmann now back at the Metropolitano, after rejoining from Barca, Felix, who was loaned out to Chelsea in January, would like to swap destinations with the World Cup winner according to AS.

The Madrid-based publication explains that Felix though he would have had his fate decided by July 10 but has become one of the “victims of the [Kylian Mbappe] case” in that Paris Saint-Germain will not make a move for him while Griezmann’s Les Bleus teammate is still on their books and hasn’t moved to Real Madrid.

AS adds that above all, Barca are Felix’s “impossible dream” as he longs to one day don Blagurana.

With Barca’s economic problems what they are ever, meeting his price tag is near impossible.

One only has to look at the Griezmann case to see that Atleti don’t sell to the Catalans cheap, and they knocked back an €80 million ($90 million) offer for Felix from Chelsea last winter.

Barca are currently trying to raise similar funds for Bernardo Silva according to Mundo Deportivo, and will struggle to afford even one of the two Jorge Mendes clients nevermind both.

With Barca president Joan Laporta a known admirer or Felix’s, and the 23-year-old apparently pining for a move to Catalonia, all both parties can kick themselves for is the fact that a January 2022 transfer never pulled off.

Barca reached an agreement for him according to AS, but Financial Fair Play troubles pushed Laporta to pull out and settle for paying a head-scratching €55 million ($62 million) for the unflattering Ferran Torres instead.

Some 18 months on, Barca are now trying to offload Torres, who does not feature in head coach Xavi Hernandez’s primary plans, but are struggling to find a buyer.

Atleti were touted as one potential destination on loan, and Barca are also exploring the possibility of shipping the Spain international out temporarily and including an option purchase clause in the deal according to SPORT.

Meanwhile Felix waits to learn of his fate and see if anyone comes in for him. With Barca suffering financially and Mbappe likely to see out the rest of his contract until next June, Felix might be destinated for another term under the orders of Atleti manager Diego Simeone.