The twists and turns of fate are no strange occurrences for FC Barcelona. Showered with moments of destiny throughout their gloried existence, Barcelona remain familiar with these strings of fortune. However, sometimes even destiny can surprise most with unique twists.
Just as the feeling of awe around Joao Felix’s Barcelona arrival seemed to be dying down, the Portuguese star reawakened from the ashes. In two consecutive games, the 24-year-old has scored against two of his former sides with decisive goals.
First came his goal against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League. Through his contribution, Barcelona were able to win that encounter with a 2-1 scoreline. Now, he managed to do that again, this time against Atletico Madrid.
Courtesy of his well-executed chipped goal, Barcelona emerged as 1-0 victors against Atletico Madrid. Following the game, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Felix was questioned about several topics.
Firstly, the Portuguese star on loan from Atletico Madrid was asked about his celebration. In football, celebrating against former clubs is often seen as a strange or even disrespectful gesture at times, yet Felix claimed his came as a result of being in the moment:
“It was a spontaneous celebration. In the end, you get caught up in the heat of the game, and it was a relief, mainly considering what I’ve experienced this past summer and everything I went through. Only the people close to me know what I’ve lived; it was also a relief for them.”
Talking about the constant chatter surrounding his name, the Barcelona forward made sure to make something clear. Aware that his name gets dragged into the news frequently, Felix claims to not pay attention anymore.
“For me, it’s been just another week. Every week, there’s talk about me, either good or bad; I’m always a topic. I don’t pay attention to what they say; I just do my job. Here, I am working every day to be a better player. I am very grateful to my teammates and the club, which welcomed me.”
For Joao Felix, no animosity is retained towards his former Atletico teammates. In fact, the Barcelona goalscorer continues to wish them well and hopes for the best for them:
“Yes, of course, I get along with all of them. They know I have nothing against them; I have a good relationship with almost all. I love them, and I wish them the best. In the end, they have been my teammates with whom I spent more time than with my family, and I wish them all the best, except against us.”
On the other hand, he spoke about the pride and joy he received upon hearing the chants of the Barcelona fans. As he stepped off the field after being substituted, many in the stands were chanting his name. For Felix, it was a special moment:
“When I heard it, I couldn’t believe it. I know the greatness of this club, and having the fans chanting your name makes me very happy. Now, I’ll continue working so they keep singing.”
This goal now marks Felix’s fifth goal for Barcelona across all competitions since arriving in the summer. The Portuguese star will now get a week to rest before Barça inevitably welcome Catalan opponents Girona to the Montjuic Stadium for an eagerly anticipated clash.
