July 11th 2023.
Joao Felix has returned to pre-season training with Atletico Madrid, but his future with Diego Simeone's side is uncertain. After his stint on loan at Chelsea last season, the 23-year-old was made to train away from the first-team squad during his first session back on Monday.
It was clear that Felix was far from impressed with the decision. He and Renan Lodi, who spent the last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, were ordered to spend the start of the session with Atletico's academy players. After the session, Felix held a tense conversation with Atletico's sporting director, Andrea Berta, and he was obviously not happy with his current situation.
It didn't get much better for Felix when Atletico Madrid announced that he had been stripped of his No.7 shirt, which Antoine Griezmann will wear for the upcoming season. Felix had been wearing that number ever since he joined Atletico in a £113 million deal from Benfica in 2019.
Now, Felix is searching for a new club and Benfica is among the clubs who have been linked with a move for the forward. Joao Mario, the team's vice-captain, spoke at Benfica's pre-season training camp at St George's Park on Tuesday and expressed his desire for the best for Felix. He said, "He is a young man with a lot of talent, a lot of quality, whatever is best for him is what I want. For Benfica he would be an excellent player, everyone knows the qualities of Joao Felix. If he wants to come and is willing to help us, he will always be welcome."
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