FC Barcelona secured a resounding victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening, reminiscent of their previous encounter at the Montjuic. Once again, Joao Felix emerged as a pivotal figure for the Catalan outfit.
Felix demonstrated his prowess by finding the net against his current club, albeit with a more subdued celebration compared to his previous goal at Montjuic. The reception from Atletico fans at the Wanda Metropolitano was notably hostile, evident in the consistent booing and jeering directed towards Felix whenever he was in possession. Notably, his jersey was subjected to burning outside the stadium.
Despite the antagonistic atmosphere, Felix, as reported by SPORT, exhibited empathy towards the fans’ sentiments. In his post-match media interactions, he conveyed understanding, expressing a desire not to be vilified. He articulated:
“The reaction of the Atlético fans stems from unawareness regarding past occurrences during my tenure. While I comprehend their emotions, I should not be portrayed as the antagonist. Moreover, my rapport with the Atlético players remains amicable.”
Moreover, Felix refuted claims circulated in the media last summer regarding strained relationships with his former teammates at Atletico:
“Contrary to external speculation, I maintain positive relations with my ex-teammates. As evidenced, interactions with players like Lemar and Lino were congenial, with exchanges of greetings, inquiries about my well-being, and familial matters. There exists no animosity between us.”
These statements illuminate that Felix’s challenges at Atletico predominantly stem from issues with club management. Consequently, the likelihood of his return to the Madrid club appears slim this summer, a scenario that may favor Barcelona’s efforts to retain the talented forward, as previously suggested in reports.