According to reports, Manchester United is actively exploring the possibility of signing Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, as the talented forward seeks a return to the Premier League. Alongside United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have also expressed interest in the 23-year-old Portuguese playmaker, as per ABC. Felix, who spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Chelsea, is eager to continue his career in England’s top-flight and is specifically looking for a club that can provide Champions League football, effectively ruling out Aston Villa.
In terms of the bigger picture, Manchester United has initiated initial contact with Felix’s representatives, although no formal offers have been presented to Atletico Madrid at this stage. The Rojiblancos had initially aimed to offload Felix before the start of pre-season, but their plans have not gone as anticipated. Reports suggest that Atletico boss Diego Simeone has instructed Felix to train with the academy players and has already stripped him of the No.7 shirt.
Furthermore, Felix’s underwhelming performances last season have resulted in a decline in his market value, prompting Atletico to consider a potential sale. While Chelsea displayed interest in signing him permanently, they were deterred by Atletico’s hefty €100 million (£87m/$110m) valuation.