Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid superstar wants to join PSG, Arsenal not an option for him – report
Less than three seasons after joining Atletico Madrid, Joao Felix seems to be on his way out of the club, with the club CEO confirming their intention to sell the player in January itself.
“He is the biggest bet the club has made. I think he has the highest level in the world but for reasons that are not worth going into now, the relationship between the coach and him is not good, nor is his motivation,” Gil Marin said last week.
“The reasonable thing is to think that he leaves, although I would love him to continue, but, this is not the player’s idea,” he added.
Several clubs, including Manchester United and Aston Villa are reportedly in pursuit of Felix, with Arsenal seemingly the one leading the race right now.
However, as per a report by Di Marzio, Felix does not want to join Arsenal. The player wants to play for Paris Saint-Germain.
And while Atletico want to offload the Portuguese, they are asking for nearly €130-140 million for him. That immediately puts most clubs out of the race for his signature.
PSG are one of the very few clubs that will be able to afford him. Further, with Lionel Messi’s expiring contract, Felix could serve as a long-term replacement for the Argentine.
Felix started the season brilliantly, assisting three goals in a 0-3 win against Getafe on the opening day of La Liga.
However, he fell out of favour with Diego Simeone soon enough, and was demoted to being the fifth-choice forward. Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, Matheus Cunha, and Alvaro Morata got priority over him, which further pushed Felix to the exit door.
Speaking about a potential exit last week, Felix refused to comment on any desired move.
“I’m completely focused on the World Cup. My agent doesn’t tell me anything about what’s going to happen, nor does he want to. I need to be focused on the now to play a great tournament.”
Felix scored one and assisted two goals in the competition before Portugal were eventually knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid ‘want to fight’ for the signing of €40m Barcelona midfield target
Atletico Madrid are interested in Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and want to fight for his signing in the summer, according to a report from Javi Gomara of Mundo Deportivo. The 26-year-old is also a transfer target for FC Barcelona and several clubs in the Premier League.
Amrabat burst into the limelight after enjoying a stunning run at the FIFA World Cup 2022, during which he helped Morocco reach the semi-finals. The midfielder was heavily linked with an exit in January, with Barcelona, Atletico and several other clubs linked.
However, a move did not materialise and he remained at Fiorentina. However, with his contract expiring next year, the Moroccan international could be on his way out in the summer, even though the Italian outfit are trying to tie him down with a new contract.
And, as per the report, Atletico Madrid are ready to fight for his signing in the summer. The report states that Amrabat is a player that is very well-liked by the Rojiblancos and would be an important cog in Diego Simeone’s side if they sign him.
Amrabat will be playing at the Civitas Metropolitano tonight, with Atletico’s home ground hosting a friendly between Morocco and Peru. And the Colchoneros dream of making the stadium the 26-year-old’s permanent home from next season.
The report adds that the Moroccan international himself would be ‘delighted’ to join the club. After all, he did speak highly of Simeone and Atleti during the World Cup, when he said:
“He has coached Atletico Madrid for many years. I like his style of play. He has won a lot and I have a lot of respect for him. The players in his team are physically strong and aggressive. I like to play that way.”
Atletico Madrid have been linked with Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos, but hold no interest in him. Instead, they wish to sign a player of Amrabat’s profile and quality. However, the 26-year-old will not come cheap as Fiorentina will demand a €40 million fee for him.
Beyond that, the interest of Barcelona and other clubs in the Premier League would also be a roadblock for the Spanish capital club.
