Can Joao Felix fulfil his potential at Atletico Madrid?

So far, Joao Felix’s Atletico Madrid career has been quite a rollercoaster. The 21-year-old has been through it all, winning the LaLiga title with the Rojiblancos last season but also suffering multiple injuries and losing his spot as a starter. Plus, all of that was in addition to playing through a global pandemic in a new country.

This weekend, Joao Felix collected the first red card of his career in Atletico Madrid’s goalless draw with Athletic Club, shown two quick yellows for an alleged foul and then for calling referee Jesus Gil Manzano “crazy”. While Gil Manzano has been criticised in Spain for overreacting, the Portuguese forward has been condemned too.

A multiple game suspension could be coming Joao Felix’s way and this at a time when he is fighting for every minute, given that the man he was supposed to replace, Antoine Griezmann, is now back at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano to take some of the minutes in attack. Luis Suarez, Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha all want to play too and Diego Simeone only tends to use two forwards at a time.

Does Joao Felix fit in at Atletico Madrid?

There were already some concerns about the fit when Atleti won the race to sign the player from Benfica. Most of Europe’s top clubs were interested, but Joao Felix elected to join a team not known for free-flowing attacking football.

Although Simeone has moved away from the 4-4-2 during the player’s time in Spain, it’s still not easy to be a forward for Atletico Madrid. The goals don’t come easy.

So, does Joao Felix fit in at Atletico Madrid? Will he be able to fulfil his potential in the Spanish capital, or is this simply not the right club for him?

Having seen his peers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland take giant leaps forward over the past couple of years, the player himself must be asking this question and you can have your own say on it too in the below poll.