As has been the case on various occasions this summer, Barcelona are unable to compete for the elite European signings due to their rather restricted budget and spending limitations imposed by Financial Fair play.
Moving forward, players like Bernardo Silva and Marcelo Brozovic, stars that Barcelona were heavily in pursuit of at various points during the transfer window, have either been unfeasible targets or have chosen to continue their carrier elsewhere, leaving Barcelona at a point where if they wish to improve their team, they have to come up with financially viable alternatives to do so.
Moreover, in recent weeks, Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix also came forth with an astonishing public statement during his interview with trusted Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, in which he name-called Barcelona as his dream club to play for, stating:
“Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barça. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
A bold statement, especially given the fact that he remains contracted to Atletico Madrid until 2027 as it stands. The player is no longer in the plans of Atletico manager Diego Simeone however, and the club is looking to part ways with him.
Despite the current unfavorable relations between the club and its player, his acquisition for Barcelona remains complicated due to financial reasons. The Catalans did enquire about a possible loan move with an option to buy, but Atletico Madrid consider such an operation to be unfavorable.
According to a recent report by Spanish outlet SPORT, the player’s brother, Hugo Felix, also gave his input on the matter and defended Joao Felix’s statements while talking to Catalan journalist Gerard Romero, stating:
“…He was very brave. I don’t remember that a player has shown such a clear love for a club. He has already said it, that he wants to go to Barça…”
It remains to be seen just how much this entire saga ends up developing over the course of the summer, but at the moment, it remains unlikely that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid may end up finding a favorable solution for the transfer of the 23-year-old Portuguese talent.
