Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Joao Felix finished at Atletico Madrid with LaLiga club ‘sick to the teeth’ of Chelsea loan star

Joao Felix after getting red card

An observer in Spain has revealed that Atletico Madrid are “sick” of a selfish Joao Felix and the chances of him being reintegrated after his loan spell at Chelsea are slim.

Chelsea signed Felix on loan for the rest of the season during the January transfer window. It came after a tense first half of the season in Spain, in which he was a substitute as often as he was a starter in his 14 La Liga appearances.

With Atletico needing to trim their squad in the winter, Felix became a likely candidate to be a casualty. Promptly, Chelsea made an investment in him to offer his first taste of Premier League football.

Felix’s time with Chelsea so far has been hit and miss. He was sent off on his Premier League debut but scored on his first appearance after his suspension.

What the long-term future holds for the 23-year-old remains unclear. Chelsea may be able to buy him in a permanent transfer, although he might have other suitors.

One option that seems to be off the table, though, is a return to Atletico, despite his contract there being due to last until 2027.

According to Miguel Martin Talavera, Atletico and Felix are on diverging paths – so much so that he is barely in contact with his former teammates anymore.

Talavera told AS TV: “What is clear is that Joao Felix is going one way and Atletico Madrid are going the other.

“Atletico are a block, there are no sour faces. There are frustrated players, but they do not let that into the public sphere. There is no continual controversy when a player comes off in the 70th minute. Or if they stay on the bench.

Atletico believe Joao Felix ‘harmed the team’

“More than that, everything is focused on a standoff between Joao Felix and Diego Pablo Simeone. Right now, Joao Felix is still in contact with two players at Atletico Madrid. After four years, Reinildo, who arrived just over a year ago, and Sergio Reguilon, are the ones who he is closest with. With the rest, there is nothing, no friendship.

“The reason is, they are sick to the teeth of him. They think he only looks out for himself, for his objectives. The things he did harmed the team and harmed the group.”

Felix’s overall record with Atletico was 131 appearances, 34 goals and 18 assists. He was more efficient in his shorter spell in Benfica’s first team beforehand.

Now, Felix has to look forward and resurrect his career. Perhaps he will have a point to prove at Chelsea, where things haven’t exactly been going to plan for the team as a whole this season.

The months ahead will therefore be critical for turning around the fortunes of club and player. Atletico, meanwhile, are seemingly moving on without their record signing.

Their loss could be Chelsea’s gain if everything goes to plan, but there is a lot of work ahead for Felix.

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