Atletico don't want to sell Joao Felix to Arsenal or Man Utd: The latest

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 1 Jan 2023 12:40 GMT
• 4 min read

Joao Felix has been linked with a winter move to Arsenal or Manchester United after falling out of favour at Atletico Madrid, but it would appear his current employers plan to keep him after all.

Felix joined Atletico from Benfica in a €126 million deal in 2019, becoming the second most expensive teenager of all time after Kylian Mbappe, and he had 15 goal involvements as los Colchoneros beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title in in 2021.

But he has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone this season, starting just five of a possible 14 league games with Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann preferred in the final third.

READ: Man Utd and Arsenal on high alert as Joao Felix becomes available for just €8m

Both Arsenal and Man Utd have been linked with a move for the Portuguese, but Simeone says the now 23-year-old remains in his plans.

Simeone: Atleti needs Joao Felix

"We have a good working relationship," he said ahead of Atleti's meeting with Elche on Thursday. "Since I've been at the club, beyond some differences that exist between people, I've never left a situation unresolved.

"We can't always agree on everything, and I've looked out for the club's best interests from my first day until this one. Everyone's giving their all and what matters to me is the team; and he's important to the team.

READ: 10 La Liga players who could move in January

"If he gives us what we saw in the World Cup, he'll be very important. He has the condition and the talent, and the team needs his qualities."

Felix had a goal and two assists in Qatar as Portugal reached the quarter-finals before losing out to surprise package Morocco.

He was reportedly available on loan this winter, with Atletico demanding an up-front fee of €8m to take the versatile attacker for the remainder of the season.

United won't even commit to that currently with the Glazer family having made the club available for sale, while Arsenal's priority in his position remains Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk.