Chelsea transfer news: Joao Felix tipped to leave club as ‘stars align’ for Atletico Madrid return

Portuguese forward could solve issue with Diego Simeone as part of loan ‘plan’
Marc Mayo7 May 2023

Chelsea could miss out on a permanent deal to sign Joao Felix this summer with the striker tipped to return to Atletico Madrid.

Former Rojiblancos director Javier Vidales has stated his belief that Felix’s stint at Stamford Bridge will help him solve his issues with Atleti coach Diego Simeone.

The Portuguese forward has scored only three goals on his loan spell at Chelsea, who may struggle to afford his signature next season particularly if they miss out on Europe.

And Vidales has explained why the “stars are aligning” for Felix’s return to Madrid.

“Atleti are a club that works like a family,” he explained to Record. “The coach will not do anything that goes against the will of the club's leadership.

“The coach decided to loan out Joao Felix with the agreement of the board. Both Simeone and the club's owners are aligned with a single objective: to make Joao Felix perform better, both in a sporting and a financial sense.

“Loaning him to England is part of a plan to show Joao that football has many more paths than the ones he has in mind. Joao may end up getting it into his head that football can be more demanding, less controlling, something in which everyone attacks and everyone defends.

“Simeone wants Joao. The dressing room wants talented players, that's why they want Joao. Andrea Berta, Atletico’s sporting director, was the one who showed the most that he wanted Joao Felix at Atletico.

“The stars are aligning for Joao Felix to return and succeed.”

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