Itâs âFell-ixâ not âFeel-ixâ, apparently.
However you pronounce it, Joao is a special kid.
Atletico knew it when they paid upwards of a hundred million euros to secure his signing from Benfica, Arsenal and Manchester United knew it when we clashed over loaning him from the Madrid club last winter, and Chelsea knew it when they swooped in to steal the deal from both of our noses.
With his tenure at Chelsea ending, Felix reportedly unhappy back at the Metropolitano and with United still needing a (maybe two) forwards, reports have alleged that Ten Hag is weighing up a second run at bringing the Portuguese starlet to Old Trafford this season.
Here are five reasons why I would back such a move:
5. We Could â and have â Do a Lot Worse
Manchester United do not currently have a proper striker. Let that sink in.
Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, weâve not had a proper centre-forward option to rely on. Anthony Martial has the quality, but for all his talents, loanee Wout Weghorst has actually been a more reliable option with regard to fitness.
Despite having their hearts set on Harry Kane, United seem focused on acquiring the services of Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, but with Atalanta reportedly uninterested in a player-plus-cash deal and insisting on a fee in possible excess of ÂŁ85m, we seem a way off from a here we go.
Even if Hojlundâs services are secured, most top sides have more than one option to play at CF. Itâs doubtful whether Hojlund alone can put us in competition with other top sides, but Hojlund and Felix are a tidy pair of forwards with the juice to get the goals that we need.
4. Joao Would Want the Move
Life at the Wanda Metropolitano has recently become a sad state of affairs for the Portuguese kid.
Stuck in a seven-year deal must be a bit of a sticky situation for a footballer. Joao Felix is full of creativity and flair in a machination schooled by Diego Simeone to rely on pragmatism and what many describe as âmafia tacticsâ.
Diego Simeone is one of Europeâs longest-serving and most respected coaches, and under his tutelage, Atletico Madrid have fulfilled the ambition of every top coach â become a team that nobody wants to play against.
Theyâre not a side that are fussed about possession stats, preferring to concede the ball, stay compact inside their own half, set up banks of four and five and frustrate opponents by timewasting, celebrating tackles and being overly boistrous in the duel to rattle key players and maybe even get them sent off.
This style of football isnât for everyone, and itâs not for Joao Felix either. Given the opportunity to play in an attacking set-up where heâll be encouraged to get on the ball and to bring to bear his dribbling ability and footwork, I think heâll take it. And, of course, we always have the prospect of playing alongside his countrymen Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot to sweeten the deal.
3. Atletico Want Their Money Back
Felix isnât the only one who would be in support of a loan move back to the Premier League.
The rojiblancos signed Felix in July 2019 for a whopping ÂŁ113m, the second highest fee ever paid for a teenager behind PSGâs acquisition of Kylian Mbappe.
Now, however, Felixâs valuation has plummeted, and with Atletico failing to secure a Champions League title in the time since, the Spanish club are desperate for a way to recoup lost funds. Atletico are apparently open to the idea of loaning Felix out again, hoping that his valuation will rise once more if he has an impressive season.
On a side note, how Benfica do business needs to be studied, because how do they keep getting these huge fees for their players? The Felix deal was only a few years ago, and theyâve just last winter got another deal in excess of ÂŁ100m sorted, with Enzo Fernandezâs move to Chelsea.
2. Ten Hagâs Secret Weapon?
In terms of the Big Six clubs, our direct rivals, a player like Joao Felix is pretty unique.
Arsenal have two very good wingers in Saka and Martinelli, Spurs have their own pair in Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min.
Grealish has enjoyed an outstanding season for Man City and Mo Salah has been Mr Dependable for Liverpool once more, but Felix would be in a classification by himself. He can create with his dribbling like Grealish and Mahrez do, his awareness and intensity can improve the quality of our press inside the final third and while heâs not had the most impressive numbers for Chelsea, he can score goals.
In a season where we will likely be playing catch-up, it could prove salubrious for the coach to have a weapon like Felix in his artillery.
1. Heâs Kind Of Good at Footballđ
Probably the most important reason.
Like I said, heâs full of creativity and flair. Heâs a player who makes things happen, a highlight reel player.
Heâs press-resistant, his footwork is a nightmare for defenders to deal with and heâs a player capable of providing cover for any position across the forward line. Off the back of a season where squad depth was an issue and players werenât rotated perhaps as much as they could have been, Ten Hagâs focus should be securing enough players to make sure that fatigue and injuries donât derail our season again.
The coach showed he can be pragmatic and take opportunities that present themselves with our acquisition of Christian Eriksen last summer, a player who wasnât in Ten Hagâs initial plans, but one who is technical, highly-experienced and available.
They do say availability is the best ability, and Felix is not just available â heâs allegedly desperate for a return to the Premier League.
With the blockbuster signing of Rice being announced just this morning, and Man Cityâs pursuit of Leipzig defender Gvardiol gaining traction, it feels like the right time to make a big move and remind people that weâre still here.
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