After Joao Felix Falls Out of Favor With Xavi, FC Barcelona Set to Sign 17YO Swedish Prodigy: Reports

Joao Felix‘s move to FC Barcelona has ventured off the beaten path. Things haven’t turned out exactly the way they were anticipated to, as the Portuguese superstar has fallen out of favor with Xavi. That said, the Catalans are poised to welcome fresh talent into their ranks, with reports suggesting that a 17-year-old Swedish star might do the trick. 

The protagonist, who is on the radar of Barcelona this time, is Lucas Bergvall. As per the latest reports from Turkish transfer guru Ekrem Konur, Joan Laporta and Co. are moving forward to add the teenage midfielder from the Allsvenskan side, Djurgården. However, they would need to tussle with 6 teams from the Bundesliga, Serie A, and Premier League who are also interested in acquiring his services. Additional reports suggest that the young attacking midfielder is available for a cut price of €15 million or $16.5 million. 

Notably, Bergvall came through the ranks of another Swedish side, Brommapojkarna. There, he played 12 games and made two goal contributions. He was snapped up by Djurgården in last year’s winter transfer window. Since then, the 17-year-old has impressed a lot for his current side, making 29 appearances and notching 3 goals and an assist. The talented player has performed well in the national setup. Throughout his journey from Sweden’s U15 to U21, he has made 9 appearances and scored 3 goals. 

Certainly, these numbers look quite promising, which gives Catalans major confidence to carry forward with the deal. However, with Barcelona already having Gavi, Pedri, and Fermin Lopez at their disposal, it remains to be seen how Bergvall will fit into the system. But hearing such praise for his attacking prowess, the young lad can replace the out-of-favor Joao Felix. 

Joao Felix faces the axe of Xavi and Barcelona

In the words of renowned journalist Jose Alvarez Haya, Joao Felix’s status in Barcelona has significantly declined. For mainly tactical reasons, the coaching staff does not see him as a crucial player for the forthcoming campaign, as they believe he is incompatible with Xavi’s philosophy. Xavi is instead keen on strengthening the wing position. “If Joao comes on loan, good, but if not, he is not a priority for Xavi,” said Alvarez. 

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Notably, Felix has only scored three goals and assisted twice in 16 La Liga games. He scored three goals and provided one assist in the UEFA Champions League. These figures nevertheless highlight the striker’s need for improvement. If nothing changes significantly, the player will likely have to consider an exit. 

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