Atletico Madrid News
€120 million Atletico Madrid forward wants January exit due to ‘unsustainable’ situation
According to a report from El Partidazo de COPE, Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix wants to leave the club in the January transfer window as he believes that his situation has become ‘unsustainable’.
The 22-year-old forward joined Atletico from SL Benfica in the summer of 2019 in a deal worth a massive €120 million. However, things have not worked out as per plans for the Portuguese international as he has never failed to kick on as expected in Diego Simeone’s side.
During the second half of the last season, he showed some signs of resurgence in form, which prompted him to turn down advances from the likes of Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
However, Joao Felix finds himself warming the benches more often than not this season, leading to building frustrations within the forward.
Indeed, Simeone is currently preferring the likes of Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann, Matheus Cunha and Angel Correa ahead of the Portuguese forward.
The 22-year-old has drawn some ire from the Atleti fanbase for his touchline antics as well as his activity on social media. After not being called on to make an appearance from the bench against Club Brugge on Wednesday, he was seen throwing his bib to the ground in anger.
While Simeone did not react to the incident after the game, there is a sense that things might not be okay between the manager and the forward.
There had been some rumours about the Argentine tactician’s own future at Atletico due to their poor start to the season.
But he has the confidence of the management and Felix believes that Cholo will remain at the club next season and sees his own situation as ‘unsustainable’. Hence, he is now keen on leaving the club as early as the January window. Whether such a move materialises remains to be seen.
Joao Felix has played 11 matches so far this season, but is yet to score a goal.
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.
