Revealed: reason why Atletico allowed Joao Felix to join Chelsea
Joao Felix became the Chelsea’s fourth signing of the January transfer window.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid for the remainder of the season.
The Blues edged Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal to the signing of the Portugal forward, after paying the €11m (£9.69m) loan fee plus wages.
Felix , who has five goals and three assists so far this season joined Atletico from Benfica in a €126m (£111m) deal from Benfica in 2019.
The LaLiga giants have been prepared to let Felix leave on loan in January because of his difficult relationship with manager Diego Simeone.
According to Spanish football expert Fernando Kallas via Sky Sports News, the relationship between Felix and Simeone have been broken completely and the Portuguese wasn’t expected to play for Atletico after the world cup.
“It’s not a surprise because I don’t see Joao Felix playing here. It was a relationship that was completely broken [with Diego Simeone]. We knew that he was leaving, we didn’t even expect him to play again for Atletico Madrid after the World Cup – they had to do it, they had no option.
“He’s not going to play under Simeone and he just renewed his contract at Atletico, so is Simeone leaving at the end of the season? That’s the question everybody is asking in Spain.
Kallas added that there reports that the relationship between Simeone and the Atletico board is also getting complicated in the face of a dwindling performance of the club.
“There are reports that the relationship between Simeone and the board and Atletico’s owners is getting more and more complicated. He’s a very complicated guy to deal with, very strong-minded.
“His military mentality and regime at Atletico Madrid was really good from the beginning with the low-level players, but dealing with superstars like Joao Felix, it’s another deal.
“It’s weird that it’s only a loan, it is a very expensive loan – €11m is a lot of money for only for six months with no buy clause. What is happening with Atletico at the end of the season – that is the big question.
“I think it works because for Atletico, it’s a very expensive salary that Chelsea is going to have to pay, and for Chelsea, they’re getting an outstanding player that wanted to leave, he’s motivated, he wants to show Simeone and to Atletico that he is worth the €127m that Atletico paid for him. So, it’s a ‘prove it’ deal for these six months.” Kallas said
