Although there have been a lot of doubts about the ability of FC Barcelona to defend their league title this season, the last few matches, especially the one against Atletico Madrid, has clearly put the Catalan club as a side still in contention for La Liga.
This win gave Barcelona the full three points against a very difficult opposition, and the Catalans are now placed second on the table, 8 points behind the leaders, Real Madrid.
However, in addition to these precious points against Atletico Madrid, the performance of the team last night gave the Blaugranes some other less manifest advantages as well.
As Mundo Deportivo has noted, one such advantage for Barcelona can come in the negotiations for Joao Felix. The way Felix was received by the fans at the Wanda Metropolitano clearly showed that the Portuguese forward does not have a future certain at the Madrid club.
The player himself showcased his lack of concern for the feelings of the Atletico Madrid fans by once again scoring against the side that actually owns him and then going on to celebrate that goal without any regrets.
As opposed to Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone, Felix has always been liked by the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta. His current loan at the Catalan club goes till June 2024, and the Blaugranes are already considering the possibility of extending this loan.
However, as it is clear that Barcelona will not be able to pay a good transfer fee to acquire him permanently, Felix remaining with the Blaugranes is not the most pleasing scenario for the Mattress Makers. Atletico want to recoup a significant portion of the club-record transfer fee of €127.2 million they paid for him in 2019.
But the lack of consistency that the forward has shown at Barcelona makes it difficult for any other side to put a high bid for him this summer. Thus, one of the more likely scenarios for Felix going forward would be to remain at Barcelona on another loan.
