Former Barcelona forward desperate to return, willing to skip pre-season tour – report

Luis Miguelsanz’s report in SPORT highlights that Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix is determined to join Barcelona and to achieve this, he is unwilling to join the Asian tour under the management of Diego Simeone. 

It must be noted that after starting pre-season by training alone, the Portuguese forward trained with his Atletico teammates under the watchful eyes of Simeone. 

Despite that, though, he might push the situation to its limits to secure a transfer away as soon as possible, as he is hopeful that Atletico will facilitate his move to the club he prefers Barcelona.

For now, Felix has alternatives such as Benfica and Aston Villa, but his heart is set on a return to Barcelona.

This preference remains despite the potential difficulty in getting playing time if the Blaugrana sign Nico Williams and Dani Olmo. 

Barcelona are occupied elsewhere

Ideally, Felix would have liked his future to be resolved by now, but Barcelona have only confirmed his presence on their list of potential signings. 

The Blaugrana are currently focusing on other acquisitions but have not dismissed the idea of signing the Portuguese forward, and he remains hopeful that his situation might change under the guidance of Hansi Flick at Barcelona.

Joao Felix wants to return to Barcelona. (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

The atmosphere at Atletico is quite complex for Felix. While he maintains a good relationship with his teammates, the same cannot be said for the coaching staff. 

Several Portuguese media outlets have even travelled to Atletico’s pre-season training camp to observe his interactions with Simeone and to see how his future unfolds. 

If Atletico mandate it, Felix will have to participate in the Asian tour, although it’s doubtful he will play much during the trip.

Benfica are serious about Felix

It is said that Benfica are making a significant effort to acquire Felix. However, this is not something Barcelona intend to match. The 24-year-old is uncertain about returning to Portuguese football and is open to other proposals. 

Aston Villa are interested in securing him on loan, but Atletico prefer a permanent sale, causing delays in the process. Barcelona, on the other hand, remains patient.

They understand that towards the end of the transfer market, there might be an opportunity to acquire Felix for a much lower cost if their interest persists.

Felix’s desire to join Barcelona stems from his admiration for their project and his hope that his role could evolve under Hansi Flick’s leadership.

Despite the complications with Atletico and the drawn-out nature of this transfer window, Felix remains optimistic about his chances.