Joao Felix anger sparks fresh doubt about Simeone relationship at Atletico Madrid

Joao Felix has been urged to show focus and wait for his turn to come again at Atletico Madrid as fresh doubts surround his future under Diego Simeone.

The Portugal forward was a teenage prodigy when he arrived from Benfica in July 2019, acquired for an eye-watering €126million and hailed as a future superstar.

He has since managed just a modest 29 goals and 16 assists in 122 games for Atletico, and although he has been a LaLiga winner in that time, Joao Felix has fallen short of expectations.

Head coach Simeone this week looked to take responsibility, saying: “All those bad aspects from Joao’s performances mean I am doing even worse. All his frustrations are caused because I am not capable to give him everything he needs in order to explode that football talent he has.”

Simeone explained: “We need him but lately he has not been able to succeed in what is most important for him, which is scoring. Obviously, that frustrates him. We need him and those goals will come as a consequence of his work.”

Those comments came before Atletico were held 0-0 by Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Joao Felix seen throwing down his substitute bib in frustration after spending the game on the sidelines.

When Simeone made his last substitution in the 79th minute, taking off Antoine Griezmann, he opted to replace the forward with midfielder Axel Witsel, despite needing a goal.

Joao Felix’s frustration was clear to see, but team-mate Geoffrey Kondogbia said: “It is normal. We all want to play.

“It is something personal, we can just give him advice. It also happened to me. Sometimes you’re upset.

“This happens in football, but it is not serious. You just have to wait for your time to come and try [your best] as everybody does.”

Griezmann gets his revenge on João Félix @Atleti || #UCL pic.twitter.com/Yftllp3IwI

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 12, 2022

The question is whether this should be happening to a player in whom Atletico have invested a huge amount, and also whether Simeone and Joao Felix can continue to collaborate without their relationship becoming toxic.

Spanish sports daily Marca described the alliance on Thursday as being “at the worst moment”, saying the current situation is “unsustainable”.

Atletico bought immense promise when they acquired Joao Felix and would have expected him to be delivering consistently by now, but the 22-year-old continues to flit between the starting XI and bench.

He has played 11 games this season, starting only seven times and spending recent games largely as a spectator. His goal involvements have been limited to three assists, all of which came in the opening LaLiga game against Getafe.

When Joao Felix has played from the first whistle, Simeone has brought him off six times already this term.

During his Atleti career, he has started only 80 times, been used as a substitute in 42 games, and has been withdrawn on 58 occasions.

Defender Jose Gimenez did not observe Joao Felix’s moment of anger during the Brugge game, but he suggested it was understandable and even desirable.

“I imagine that he got mad because he did not play,” Gimenez said. “I want in my team rebel players that want to play, that you can see that they want to play and that when they have the chance to play they show this rage, want to give it all and earn the minutes in the pitch that they deserve.”

Next for Atletico is a LaLiga clash with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, when Simeone’s use of Joao Felix will inevitably be scrutinised again, especially in light of the apparent show of dissent in the Brugge game.

Before the clash with the Belgian champions, Simeone had said: “Joao is a very important player for this club and also for the team. If he keeps following the path of being involved and understand that the most important thing is the team, the rest will come naturally.”

The coach’s team sheet for the Athletic game could be telling for their future collaboration.