Atletico Madrid were shocked and angry with João Félix after the striker said he ‘loves playing for Barcelona’ because he wants to leave the club, a source has told ESPN.
The Portugal international has returned to pre-season training with Atletico after spending the second half of last season on an unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea.
“Barcelona has always been my first choice and I would love to Barca,” Félix told journalist Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, as quoted by ESPN.
“It’s always been a dream of mine since I was a kid. … If that happens, it will be a dream come true for me,” he continued.
A source close to Atletico told ESPN that Felix “made a mistake” about the timing and manner of his comments.
The club were not aware that the player was scheduled to speak publicly.
Barcelona have signed defender Iñigo Martínez, midfielders Ilkay Gündogan and Oriol Romeu and striker Vitor Roque this summer, but are yet to any newcomers.
Sources have told ESPN that Barca have been offered a deal to buy Felix in recent weeks but due to the club’s dire financial situation, they have only been able to sign him on loan.
The striker’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has a good relationship with Barca president Joan Laporta and represents a number of players at the club, including Ansu Fati, Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal.
Barca have been linked with Felix before and have been discussed in negotiations over Antoine Griezmann’s return to Atletico, but there is an internal debate at the club between those who see him as an extraordinary player and others who wonder why he is not reaching his full potential.
Atletico believe Felix’s intention in making Tuesday’s statement was to avoid traveling with the team on their pre-season tour, as Atletico prepare to travel to South Korea, Mexico and the United States.
Sources say the only interest in Felix that Atletico knows comes from Aston Villa.
Felix’s relationship with coach Diego Simeone has not been as bad as many have reported, but sources say the player’s attitude during pre-season training has been disappointing and his relationship with his team-mates has also become strained.
Felix ed Atletico for a record 126 million euros ($141 million) in 2019.
After three and a half seasons of instability at Madrid, he ed Chelsea in the January transfer window this year, making 16 Premier League appearances and scoring four goals.
