In a situation of failure and pushed towards the exit by Atlético de Madrid, João Félix shocked the Colchoneros by publicly proclaiming his love for FC Barcelona. But at the time, many thought it was just a means used by the 23-year-old Portuguese striker to force his arrival in Catalonia. Today, it is clear that João Félix was not lying about his feelings towards the Blaugrana team.
Félix surprised by his debut
Started by Xavi after the match against Osasuna (2-1), the Lusitanian made a very good debut with the culé team. Author of three goals and an assist, Félix has already achieved a third of his performances from last season (9 goals, 3 assists), in just three matches, in all competitions. This bodes well for the future, even if the main person concerned confided to Mundo Deportivo that he didn’t expect to have such a perfect debut with his new teammates.
“Really, it’s that good? No, honestly I didn’t expect it. I thought, and still think, that this is the ideal place for me, but the truth is that things are going very, very well and I didn’t expect them to go so well. Let them continue like this and let it be like this until the end. (…) Since the first day he (Xavi) told me to play for fun, to play with joy and to play my football. Of course, he asks me tactical questions, but above all he asks me to have fun, to have fun, and that’s what I try to do. »
A piece of advice that is clearly paying off. Because if there is one thing that is certain, it is that the former Madrilenian does not regret having made an enormous financial effort (salary divided by two) in order to be able to join the Catalans. “Yes, the truth is that I gave up a significant part of my salary. But I needed a change, I needed to go somewhere where I could play football and, like I said, I always thought it would be the perfect place. Things are going well and I had to make this effort to find the pleasure of playing again. » A pleasure that he never had at Atlético, under the orders of Diego Simeone.
Do everything to be permanently transferred to Barça
“It’s clear to everyone, football is like that, whoever is bad has to change places. I already did it at Chelsea and I’m doing it now at Barcelona because I wasn’t good there (at Atlético), I didn’t adapt to the ideas of the club and the coach, but I always tried to do my best and I had some really good times there too”. Loaned by the Colchoneros (without purchase option), João Félix now wants to do everything to ensure that Barça recruits him permanently.
“For me it will all depend on how the season ends. Then it is Barcelona who must negotiate with Atleti and it depends on Atleti whether they want to make things easier or not. But it’s a question of business, of values, in which I don’t get involved. I do my job on the field, I try to do my best so that they want to sign me at the end. » Patience.
