'No choice...' - Barcelona get MORE bad transfer news after Roque SHOCK

Tom Weber

• Updated: 6 May 2024 17:22 BST
• 3 min read

Joao Felix could stay at Atletico Madrid next season and beyond, according to Spanish media.

The Portuguese attacker fulfilled a childhood dream when he left Atletico Madrid on loan in the summer to join Barcelona. It was a strange transfer as Felix had quite publically spoken about his desire to get out of Madrid and join the Blaugrana, much to the chagrin of his parent club.

Due to Barcelona's financial problems, they could not insert a purchase option into the loan deal, meaning that Felix will return to the Spanish capital in the summer. His next move is still not known and to say that his future is uncertain would be an understatement.

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Though the 24-year-old has had the occasional good run of form and popped up with the odd important goal, his overall contribution has left a lot to be desired. This, in conjunction with the fact that Atletico are keen to recoup a hefty chunk of their original €127 million outlay, means that it is highly unlikely that Barcelona will be in a position to sign him permanently this summer.

Felix to stay?

According to AS, Felix may have no other choice but to remain at Atletico Madrid despite the fact that his relationship with the club and, most importantly, head coach Diego Simeone is broken.

Atleti extended Felix's contract until 2029 before loaning him to Catalunya, meaning that he is still tied to the capital club for the next few years. It is asserted that Simeone and company value Felix at around €60m, which is a figure Barcelona can't muster.

Crucially, it is also a sum that few if any other clubs will be willing to shell out either. The attacker has shown little to justify that fee in recent years and it is unclear what the future will hold for him.

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Previously, the idea of a renewed loan to Barcelona had been floated with the idea being that he could eventually be available for a more affordable €40m down the line, but the Catalans are still not out of the woods yet with regards to Financial Fair Play.

Felix took a massive pay cut to join them in the summer, but is he willing to do so again? If Barcelona are unable to sign him because they wouldn't be able to register him, he really would have to stay in Madrid - or, perhaps, move to Saudi Arabia.