Romano reveals why Chelsea didn’t sign Joao Felix as Barcelona fear he may be TOO GOOD
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 21 Sept 2023 07:35 BST
- 4 min read
Joao Felix has made a hot start since signing for Barcelona on loan this summer, but the Portuguese might have wound up permanently at Chelsea had Mauricio Pochettino not turned him down.
The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Stamford Bridge and Fabrizio Romano has now detailed why that deal did not stick.
There was no buy option in the agreement that took Felix from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea temporarily last season, and the Premier League side did not believe that he would be worth the money they would be forced to pay for him, according to Romano.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “The feeling at Chelsea from June to August was that for Atletico it was impossible to accept a loan deal. It was a permanent transfer or nothing and Atletico knew Chelsea decided against spending €70m to €80m. It was a no for Chelsea from the financial point of view.
“And also from a technical point of view, Pochettino was not convinced about this solution and believed that Nkunku was perfect for Chelsea in that kind of creative position. So Chelsea decided to go on a different way.”
Felix played 20 games for Chelsea during his loan spell and scored four goals.
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Barcelona’s Joao Felix worry
Atletico Madrid did ultimately accept a loan move for the Portugal international attacker, who was allowed to complete a switch to LaLiga champions Barcelona after speaking out about his desire to complete such a deal.
Joao Felix did not kick a ball competitively in August while his future was still being considered, but he has made a formidable start at Camp Nou. On the occasion of his first start against Real Betis, he was on the scoresheet, and he followed that up with two goals and an assist against Antwerp in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Javi Miguel Club explains, though, that Joao Felix’s hot form for Barcelona could prove to be an issue given that there is no buyout clause agreed with Atletico Madrid.
There is concern that if the player’s level continues as it has in his early matches, Atletico Madrid will ask for €100 million, which is a fee that Barcelona will struggle to match given their financial concerns.
Joao Felix’s long-term future, then, remains unclear.
