Felix back in Spain after last season’s stint with Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has played down talk of Joao Felix being unhappy at the club amid reports of fresh Premier League interest in the forward.
The 23-year-old spent the second-half of last season on loan with Chelsea but is now back in the Spanish capital where his future appears uncertain.
Felix cut a frustrated figure after he was made to train away from the first-team squad during Atletico’s first session back on Monday.
After the session, Felix held a tense conversation with Atletico’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, seemingly unhappy with his current situation.
It comes amid new reports in Spain claiming Manchester United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have all made contact over a loan move this summer, with Felix keen for his agent Jorge Mendes to find him a new club.
But addressing the Portugal international’s future, Atletico president Cerezo said: ‘We are happy to have a player of the quality of Joao Félix. Fortunately for us, he plays for Atlético.
‘He is a player much loved by everyone. To this day and until the contrary is proven, he is an Atlético player for many seasons.’
Felix was back in training this week (Picture: EPA)
Quizzed on Felix’s frustrated demeanour in training this week, Cerezo made light of the situation, putting it down to players getting put through their paces again after their summer holidays.
‘When you finish your vacation and when they give you those physical beatings [back in training], you undoubtedly get p****d off. You get up at eight instead of 11, I wouldn’t be happy either.’
Despite those comments, all signs suggest another move for Felix with the player also stripped of his no7 shirt – the number he has worn since joining the club – and handed it to Antoine Griezmann.
Speaking before the Premier League season finished in May, Felix made it clear that he was keen to remain at Chelsea.
‘I don’t know yet my future,’ he said.
‘It’s a top club. Everyone in the club was very good to me, my team-mates [have been] unbelievable. And I really like to be here.’
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Newcastle and Aston Villa have also made contact.
