Aston Villa transfer latest as Joao Felix continues to be linked with a move in the summer window, ahead of a prospective return to Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix wants to know where he’ll be playing his football before the end of July and he is required to return to his parent club, amid longstanding reports linking him with a move to Aston Villa this summer transfer window.
Felix, whose Euro 2024 campaign with his native Portugal ended in heartache when he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against France in their quarter final bout, spent last season on loan at then champions Barcelona, under Xavi. It’s considered, though, that the Catalans aren’t too eager to pursue a permanent deal for Felix this summer.
Meanwhile, the player himself isn’t keen on remaining at Atleti, where he became one of the most expensive ever players in the sport’s history when he signed from Benfica for £113m in 2019. He’s also had a loan spell with Chelsea, too, having spent more time away from the Spanish capital after his relationship with manager Diego Simeone reportedly deteriorated.
So Felix wants another move if possible, and would rather find a new club before having to return to Atleti after his summer holiday and reunite with Simeone. While a move to Barca doesn’t appear imminent – they’re continuing to pursue a move for Athletic Bilbao winger and Spain hero Nico Williams – Felix has tasked agent Jorge Mendes with resolving his future one way or the other.
It could be that Barca revisit a deal for Felix later in the summer, perhaps at the end of the window, but the player in question isn’t interested in waiting that long and would rather secure a suitable move in the immediate future before his holiday ends. Felix is expected back, otherwise, at the Metropolitano at the end of this month for pre-season training.
Villa have been widely linked with a move. They’ve already been busy this summer in recruiting Juventus pair Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea, as well as Ross Barkley, Jaden Philogene, Lewis Dobbin and Ian Maatsen, while Cameron Archer has returned for at least the time being. Douglas Luiz and Tim Iroegbunam head their list of players who have departed, while Calum Chambers and Philippe Coutinho have exited too.
With Emi Buendia, fit again, rejoining Unai Emery’s existing attacking options in Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby (who has been linked with a move away), Morgan Rogers and the horde of new faces, Villa could yet complement those talents and Felix, who boasts Champions League pedigree, would look to be an interesting target.
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