Joao Felix's reveals SHOCKING truth behind Barcelona transfer claim

Stuart Telford

• 21 Jul 2023 15:28 BST
• 3 min read

Joao Felix has been linked with a sensational transfer to Barcelona, but his claims that they are his "dream club" were reportedly "ordered from above".

Felix's future looks uncertain.

Still the second-most expensive teenager in history behind Kylian Mbappe, He went on loan to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid last season but only scored four goals in 20 games.

READ: Barcelona want to make SHOCK transfer happen - Romano

The Blues elected against making his stay permanent, while Diego Simeone has no plans to use him at Atletico, with the club even handing Antoine Griezmann his No.7 jersey recently.

Paris Saint-Germain have previously been credited with an interest, but they have already signed final third operators Marco Asensio, Kang-in Lee a Xavi Simons this summer - even if the latter has already joined RB Leipzig on loan.

That leaves cash-strapped Barcelona, who reportedly tried to sign Felix before, but would now struggle to fund a deal for a player who cost Atleti €126 million in 2019.

READ: Barcelona: Xavi's Joao Felix stance REVEALED

Felix: 'I'd love to play for Barca'

But Felix made it clear he would like to find a way to make that transfer possible, telling transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano: "I'd love to play for Barca.

"Barcelona has always been my first choice and I'd love to join Barca, it was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me."

But the statement was not his idea; rather "orders that came from above," Spanish journalist Helena Condis told El Partidazo de COPE.

"Barca's economic and sports area sees the operation as economically unfeasible. For now, they rule it out. It could only be done if there were significant sales, but the priority before that would be Bernardo Silva anyway."

Barca have so far acquired players on free transfers this summer in Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City and Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao, against the backdrop of La Liga telling them to reduce their debts by €200m.

As previously reported exclusively by FootbalTransfers' Steve Kay, they could fund a move for Bernardo by using Frenkie de Jong as a makeweight.

Felix looks set to be frustrated this summer, and he won't be thanking his agents or current employers if Condis' claims turn out to be true.