Blow for Man Utd after Simeone U-turn on Felix

FT Desk

• 12 Nov 2022 11:20 CST
• 3 min read

Manchester United want to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with his fellow Portugal attacker Joao Felix, but his current employers Atletico Madrid now look like they want to keep him.

Felix joined Atletico from Benfica for €126 million in 2019, becoming the second-most expensive teenager after Kylian Mbappe, and he has had 16 goal-involvements in all competitions in each of the last two seasons.

But Felix, who can play up front or out wide, has fallen behind Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann for the former role this season, and Rodrigo de Paul and Yannick Carrasco for the latter.

READ: Joao Felix is not Man Utd’s answer to Ronaldo problem

With Atletico exiting the Champions League at the group stage this term, thus taking a financial hit, it is generally expected that they will cash in on a saleable asset who isn't getting his game.

Man Utd would gladly have him, especially if they can get Ronaldo, who has become a headache for manager Erik ten Hag, into the deal as some sort of makeweight. But Atletico coach Diego Simeone still has faith in Felix.

Simeone wants Felix stay

"Hopefully he can continue to be with us," the Argentine said ahead of Atleti's Cope del Rey clash with fifth-tier Almazan. "Hopefully he can perform at the level he has shown when given the ample opportunities he has had.

READ: Atletico Madrid set to put SIX up for sale after Champions League catastrophe

"And I'll tell you something: he is a footballer with a goal and that's what we need."

Felix has only made give of a possible 14 La Liga starts this season, although his three goals and assists domestically give him an impressive goal-involvement of one every 85 minutes he has played.

Man Utd will have to act fast if Atletico do decide to part ways with their their record signing, with Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly entering the fray for the 23-year-old's signature.

Felix will join Ronaldo in the Portugal squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, after which both of their futures will become clearer.