Joao Felix gave up a FORTUNE to sign for Barcelona

James Shearman

Updated: 7 Sept 2023 17:16 BST
4 min read

Joao Felix says he wants a transfer to Barcelona — © ProShots

Joao Felix has given up an incredible €17 million to play for Barcelona, according to A BOLA.

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The Portuguese outlet are reporting that Atletico Madrid only paid Felix for the months of June and July, while Barcelona are only paying him €400,000 for the remainder of the season.

As a result, the 23-year-old will lose almost €5m in the 2023-24 season alone, given he was due to earn €6m.

Meanwhile, Atletico required Felix to sign a new contract before they agreed to loan him out to their La Liga rivals.

The forward signed a deal for another four years past this season, on an annual salary of €3m - a 50% pay cut on the €6m he was previously on.

This means that, from the 2024-25 campaign to the end of 2028-29, he will effectively lose €12m.

So, Felix's move to Barcelona has cost him €12m - an indication that he was desperate to fulfill a childhood dream fo playing for La Bluagrana.

He will also be hoping that this gesture is rewarded with a permanent move to Camp Nou next season, which could potentially cut his losses.

Joao Felix to Barcelona

The Blaugrana loaned Ansu Fati to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Deadline Day, while Ousmane Dembele left to join Paris Saint-Germain for €50 million in mid-August.

Antoine Griezmann has also left the club, joining Atleti on a permanent deal after his loan move last season.

The France international took Felix’s No.7 shirt in the Spanish capital, which signalled that Diego Simeone was not keen on re-integrating the former Benfica star into his side.

🚨 Everything indicates that Xavi will use João Félix as an inverted left-winger, with Balde overlapping. @xavierbosch pic.twitter.com/wJeJBOyrCA
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 7, 2023

Felix did not feature in any of Atletico Madrid’s opening three La Liga fixtures of the new season, appearing as an unused substitute against Granada and Rayo Vallecano.

He was not included in their match-day squad versus Real Betis in the second round of fixtures.

In July, Felix told Fabrizio Romano: “I’d love to play for Barca. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca. It has always [been] my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”

That dream is now reality as Barcelona signed Felix for the 2023-24 campaign.

He was their fourth arrival of the summer, having landed Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, Inigo Martinez.

Barcelona sit third in La Liga, having picked up 10 points from their opening four games.

Read more about: La Liga Serie A Liga Portugal Bwin Ligue 1 Premier League MLS Professional League Al-Hilal Atlético Barcelona Benfica Brighton Granada Inter PSG Rayo Vallecano Real Betis Roma Ansu Fati Antoine Griezmann Inigo Martinez Joao Felix Lautaro Martinez Lionel Messi Neymar Oriol Romeu Ousmane Dembélé İlkay Gündoğan