As he leaves for Chelsea the €126m signing has not flopped in Madrid, but neither has he flourished in the way many hoped
João Félix is substituted by coach Diego Simeone during a Champions League match against Manchester United in 2022.Simeone did, despite the assumptions to the contrary, use Félix, if not always in the position, style, or as often as he would like. Of the 134 games he has been available for, the 23-year-old has played 131; 84 as a starter. Simeone wasn’t going to wait; it is not what he does.
In the first half of the season in which Atlético won the league, Félix was pushed up alongside Luis Suárez, whose arrival changed the structure of the team, and was arguably the best player in Spain, but then he suffered an ankle injury. By the end of the season you could name four or five players at Atlético alone who had ultimately been more significant.
But after the Madrid derby, Félix disappeared from the team, unfairly singled out, he felt. When he returned he scored in five games running up until this weekend, when he was replaced early. By then his mind was made. In the autumn, when his minutes were few and his anger growing, when there had been public displays of the breakdown – a bib thrown down, a goal celebrated with a finger to his lips – the conclusion was becoming clear: the artist needed an escape.
“Everything he does badly is because I’m doing even worse,” Simeone said, a hint of irony in his words. “All the frustration he feels tells you that I haven’t been able to give him what he needs to show the talent he has.”
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chelsea confirm loan signing of ‘very happy’ João Félix from Atlético MadridChelsea have confirmed the signing of João Félix on a loan deal from Atlético Madrid for the remainder of the season
Read more »
Football transfer rumours: Tottenham in for Brentford keeper David Raya?Félix to seal Chelsea deal? | Fernández to Leicester? | Everton and Forest battle over Danjuma?
Read more »
Chelsea confirm loan signing of ‘very happy’ João Félix from Atlético MadridChelsea have confirmed the signing of João Félix on a loan deal from Atlético Madrid for the remainder of the season
Read more »
Suspected human remains actually cow carcass in tracksuit jumperWA police are frustrated they spent a whole day investigating remains in the Pilbara that turned out to be from a cow, not a human.
Read more »
Football transfer rumours: Tottenham in for Brentford keeper David Raya?Félix to seal Chelsea deal? | Fernández to Leicester? | Everton and Forest battle over Danjuma?
Read more »
Cody Simpson marks milestone with reflective postSinger-turned-swimmer CodySimpson has celebrated his 26th birthday with a reflective social media post. 7NEWS
Read more »