Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid unwilling to sell wantaway forward, will point towards €350m release clause
Joao Felix’s future at Atletico Madrid is back in the spotlights ahead of the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old has not had a stable run at the Civitas Metropolitano since his arrival back in 2019 but looked to be finally settling down in the second half of the last season.
However, over the past few weeks, he is back to warming the benches and being overlooked by manager Diego Simeone.
The situation seemingly reached a tipping point when he was spotted reacting angrily after being ignored for substitution against Club Brugge earlier this week.
Since then, reports have emerged claiming that Joao Felix believes his situation at Atletico Madrid has become unsustainable and is seeking to leave the club in the January window itself.
Building on those claims, MARCA has come out with a new report, stating that Felix had a meeting with his agent, Jorge Mendes, in Madrid on Thursday.
During the meeting, the 22-year-old Portuguese international informed the superagent of his desire to leave the Civitas Metropolitano and asked him to find a solution in the winter transfer window.
This is not the first time that Joao Felix is considering his future at Atletico. The Portuguese ace was unhappy last year when the club re-signed Antoine Griezmann as he believed it would affect his game-time. However, he stayed and was able to display flashes of his quality.
But with the situation being as it is currently, it seems like the former SL Benfica ace is ready to move on from Los Rojiblancos.
However, the report adds that Atletico Madrid, at the moment, do not intend to sanction the 22-year-old forward’s sale. They turned down Barcelona’s approach to swap Joao Felix for Griezmann while also knocking back enquiries and offers from several clubs from across Europe.
The Colchoneros have inserted a mammoth €350 million release clause in his contract and will likely point any suitors towards that as they are not ready to give Felix away at this moment.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
