Chelsea have reportedly entered discussions with Atletico Madrid over the transfer of Joao Felix. The Portuguese forward, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona, is now being considered as part of a potential deal involving Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Joao Felix has had a tumultuous time at Atletico Madrid, with his future at the club hanging in the balance. After a season-long loan at Barcelona, where he played 30 La Liga matches, scored seven goals, and provided three assists,
Felix returned to Atletico Madrid this summer. Despite showing flashes of brilliance at Camp Nou, his role diminished towards the end of his stint with Barcelona.
Now, back at Atletico, Felix has participated in the club's pre-season, scoring in a friendly against Juventus. However, his future with the Spanish side remains uncertain.
Atletico manager, Diego Simeone, praised Felix after the Juventus match, stating: "He played well in the 45 minutes he got against Getafe. He's an Atlético Madrid player, and as long as he's here, we'll value him based on how he works, just like we do with everyone else on the team."
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Chelsea's interest and Atletico's plans
Despite the praise from Simeone, Felix's future took another twist when Chelsea reportedly reopened talks with Atletico Madrid. According to sources, the negotiations involve a possible swap deal with Conor Gallagher, who recently visited Atletico's stadium, the Cívitas Metropolitano.
The potential inclusion of Felix in this deal comes after a move for Spanish striker Samu Omorodion collapsed late Sunday night.
🚨🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea and Atlético Madrid are now discussing João Félix to #CFC as part of Gallagher deal!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2024
Samu Omorodion deal collapsing and the two clubs don’t want Gallagher and Julián Álvarez deals to collapse too…
João Félix, being discussed with Jorge Mendes in London. pic.twitter.com/l3N4axmceS
Atletico Madrid are keen on signing both Gallagher and Manchester City's Julian Alvarez this summer. However, their ability to complete these deals may hinge on whether they can offload Felix, who became a fan favourite during his brief loan spell at Chelsea in the 2022/23 season.
While Felix enjoyed his time at Stamford Bridge, a permanent move never materialized. As reported earlier, there was no option or obligation for Chelsea to buy Felix during his loan spell, and Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea's manager at that time, reportedly did not see Felix in his plans moving forward.
With Jorge Mendes, Felix's agent, currently in London, the situation could evolve quickly.
