The Benfica president has ruled out the possibility of a hypothetical return
The Portuguese has shown his love for the Barça club he wishes to sign with
Benfica president Rui Costa has put an end to the possibility of João Félix returning to the club where he was trained by categorically stating that “he is a player of Atlético de Madrid and period“, and assured that the Lisbon team has “little availability” for more entries or exits from the squad.
Speaking to the local media last night upon his arrival in the Algarve (south of Portugal), where Benfica will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr today, Costa highlighted the relationship that Felix has with the “eagles”, without adding further details.
João “Félix will always be one of us, but he’s an Atlético de Madrid player, period‘ said the top Benfica leader and former Portuguese international.
Rui Costa’s new words on a possible return to the team of the Portuguese forward coincide with those of the last 11th, in which he underlined that he is an “extraordinary player”, but without feeding rumors of a transfer.
“Who wouldn’t want to have João Félix at Benfica? At Benfica or elsewhere. He is a great player, a fantastic person and one of our guys. He deserves the best in the world, but right now he’s an Atlético de Madrid player,” he told Portuguese press in England at the time.
The future of João Félix, without space in Diego Simeone’s rojiblanco dressing roomit was followed closely in Portugal, and today it once again occupies a front page spot in both sporting and general newspapers.
‘Barcelona dream drives Félix away from Benfica’headlines Correio da Manhã, the country’s most widely read newspaper, which refers to the player’s recent statements about his desire to go to Camp Nou.
For his part, O Jogo echoes the statements of the president of Benfica and writes it “Rui Costa excludes Félix”while Record titles it “Barça advances for Félix”.
In addition to João Félix’s situation, Costa commented on the Portuguese star’s “little availability” on the market in terms of income or expenses and underlined that “there is nothing concrete on any player’s table”.
“The squad is forming trying to stay with few signings and few departures. We want to try to keep it that way. Open market, but little availability on our part”Costa pointed out.