Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez says that Barcelona have helped on-loan Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix find “another dimension”.
Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez has said that Barcelona have helped Joao Felix find “another dimension”.
The 23-year-old joined the Catalan outfit on loan from Atletico Madrid over the summer, and he has impressed for Xavi’s side this season, scoring three goals and registering three assists in eight appearances.
Barcelona are expected to push for a permanent move for Felix next summer, with the club said to have been delighted with his form since his arrival.
The attacker scored once and provided one assist in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina last time out, and Martinez has hailed the La Liga champions for helping Felix ‘feel important’ again.
“Barcelona have given Felix another dimension. I’ve not seen many players who can play inside, but also on the wing, and have the capacity to take on players with a good understanding of his teammates,” Martinez told reporters. “What I’ve seen is that Felix feels important at his club.”
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Felix spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, scoring four goals in 20 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.
There was a host of speculation surrounding the forward’s future over the summer, with a return to the Premier League thought to be a huge possibility.
However, Felix made it clear that Barcelona were his first choice, and he was able secure a move to Camp Nou before the end of the transfer window.
The Portuguese has scored 34 goals and registered 18 assists in 131 appearances for Atletico, and he has a contract at Wanda Metropolitano until June 2029, but a permanent switch away from the Red and Whites next year is expected to occur.
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Barcelona president Joan Laporta has talked-up the prospect of his club signing Felix on a permanent basis, although much will depend on the club’s finances.
There have been claims that Atletico would want around €80m (£69m) for the former Benfica youngster, and the capital side are in a strong position to negotiate due to the length of time left on his deal.
Felix has scored once and provided two assists in six La Liga appearances this season, while he has two goals and one assist in two Champions League outings.
The forward is expected to be a part of the Portugal squad at next summer’s European Championship, although he faces a battle to be a starter in Martinez’s first-choice side due to the strength of the competition in the final third of the field.
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