Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United and Manchester City to rope in Joao Felix

Portuguese wonderkid Joao Felix has rejected interest from English Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Manchester City ahead of a €120m move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, according to Marca. 

The Benfica attacker is currently in Madrid, as per Portuguese newspaper Record, to sign a club-record deal with Diego Simeone’s side worth €6 million-a-year, who have potentially landed the replacement for their departed star-man Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman announced his plans to leave Wanda Metropolitano having been linked with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. 

19-year old Joao Felix has become this summer transfer window’s hottest property after his breakthrough season in the Portuguese top-flight. The forward gained significant attention after he became the youngest individual to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Felix also lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and is destined to be an incredible player in the coming years. 

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City were very keen on bringing the teenager to the Etihad Stadium following the rumours regarding Leroy Sane’s transfer to Bayern Munich. However, the domestic treble-winning manager only has restricted funds to strengthen in midfield and defensive positions this summer. 

Manchester United’s summer revamp is in desperate need of a superstar signing after their miserable last season both domestically and in Europe. Joao Felix would be a terrific signing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, the Portuguese is determined to play Champions League football next season and would hence become the new poster boy at Atletico Madrid.

Felix’s club Benfica, however, have dismissed any news of an agreement between Joao Felix and Atletico on their website regarding it as “false” despite him being in the Spanish capital. The youngster could also reportedly be bought this summer and loaned back to the Primeira Liga side for a year to ward off interest from other clubs and give the player more time to grow.