Atletico Madrid have reportedly rejected Manchester United ‘s offer worth €130m (£110m) for forward Joao Felix.
Despite the lingering doubts over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, the Red Devils are still looking to improve their attacking options before the transfer season ends.
Felix has recently become a prospective target, with one report saying that United representatives met with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
According to Spanish news outlet AS, United made a €130 million (£110m) bid for Felix, but Atletico immediately rejected it.
The La Liga club has stated that they have no intention of moving the 22-year-old this summer, citing the forward’s €350 million (£295.7 million) release clause.
Priceless. pic.twitter.com/vEuI7Ydcy4
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 17, 2022
According to the report, the Portugal international is considered as one of Atletico Madrid’s most important players by both his teammates and head coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico have since posted an image of the forward training on Twitter with the caption “Priceless.”
Felix has netted 29 goals and contributed 18 assists in 112 appearances for Atletico across all competitions since signing from Benfica for a club-record £114m in the summer of 2019.
However, the forwards has failed to achieve the heights anticipated of him, and was limited to only 13 La Liga starts last season due to injury.
Felix, who scored the game-winning goal in Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 pre-season win over Manchester United last month, is now keen to justify his high price tag and is motivated to progress with Los Colchoneros.
“I’m happy, I’m working to help the team, give joy to the club and all the people of Atleti,” Felix told AS. The other years I always tried to be better. If this is my year, I don’t know. It depends, we don’t know about the future.
“But what I can assure you is that I am doing my best to be at the best level so that I can help the team and the club.
“I arrived here young, I’m still young but I’ve already grown a lot and I’m sure to grow more. And I’m fine. I’m happy. I have a calm head and when so, things go naturally and let’s hope things are good.
“With [Antoine] Griezmann, with Alvaro [Morata], with [Matheus] Cunha, with Angel [Correa]. We all get along well and on the field, the team is doing great.”
See Also: Atletico Confident On Keeping Cunha Amid Man Utd Interest
Felix, who has four years left on his contract at Wanda Metropolitano, was a notable player in Atletico’s first La Liga encounter of the new season, providing three assists in a 3-0 away win over Getafe on Monday.
Meanwhile, Felix’s colleague Matheus Cunha is said to have turned down the opportunity to join United this summer, despite having only joined the club last summer from Hertha Berlin.
Man United are currently running out of time to bolster their team before the September 1 deadline, with Erik ten Hag looking to add at least five more players after previously signing Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, and Lisandro Martinez.
COMMENTS