Joao Felix to Barcelona or Man Utd? Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone responds to transfer talk raging around Portuguese forward

The Portugal international forward spent the second-half of last season on loan at Premier League side Chelsea, where he netted four goals through 20 appearances. No permanent deal was sought by the Blues, with Felix having been named on the bench by Atleti for their 2023-24 La Liga season opener against Granada.

Felix is now nursing a slight knock, which is ruling him out of action, but rumours of interest from Barca and United refuse to go away as another recruitment deadline approaches. Atletico have a big decision to make on the 23-year-old, as he remains a saleable asset, but Simeone is giving little away when it comes to future plans.

Simeone has said when asked about the speculation that is raging at Wanda Metropolitano: “Joao Felix? I always say the best question is to ask him. I see that he's not being interviewed and doesn't have the opportunity. They're always asking us. He's in the squad, and we've been training with him since the pre-season began. He didn't take part in the friendlies due to an injury that kept him out of the first two, and he didn't enter the other two because we understood he needed a week of training. Later, he had a good week and was called up for the first match. Now he has some discomfort, so he won't be in Seville. That's what I can comment on, concerning what matters to me, which is the group and our work.”

Felix joined Atletico for €126 million (£108m/$137m) in 2019 and has scored 34 goals while registering 18 assists through 131 appearances for the Rojiblancos. He remains tied to a contract in the Spanish capital through to 2027, meaning that there is no pressure to part with him amid links to leading sides from across Europe.