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Atletico Madrid mock reports linking Joao Felix with a move to Manchester United… as Spanish side insist £113m star ‘priceless’ in latest blow to Erik ten Hag’s hunt for new signings
- Joao Felix was linked with a £110m move to Manchester United this week
- However, United refuted the reports and said they were ‘pure nonsense’
- Atletico responded to the rumours on Twitter and labelled Felix ‘priceless’
- The Portuguese star laid on three assists in his side’s 3-0 win over Getafe
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Atletico Madrid have mocked reports Manchester United made a £110million move for Joao Felix, amid rumours linking Erik ten Hag’s side with the star, as the Spanish side labelled him ‘priceless’.
United reportedly registered an interest in signing Felix earlier in the summer after he had been touted as one of the biggest rising stars in European football.
However, United have refuted claims they offered Atletico £110m for Felix after the Spanish giants disregarded their initial interest, saying they were ‘pure nonsense’.
Atletico Madrid mocked reports linking Joao Felix with a move away from the Spanish capital
Erik ten Hag had reportedly been lining up a £110m move for the Portuguese starlet
Felix originally impressed at Benfica before his £113m move to Atletico as a 19-year-old in 2019
Ten Hag was reportedly lining up the forward as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Portuguese star’s future continues to dominate the headlines.
And Atletico responded to the rumours on social media on Thursday.
Tweeting from their official account, they posted a photo of Felix in training, and captioned the snap ‘Priceless.’, with fans quick to jump on the story and claim the message was in response to the speculation.
Atletico Madrid tweeted ‘priceless’, while accompanying the tweet with a snap of Felix training
The tweet also highlights how much Atletico value Felix, with it claimed that the attacker is regarded as one of Diego Simeone’s most important players.
Felix joined Atletico from Benfica in 2019 for £113million. He took a while to find his grove with Simeone’s side but began to settle in soon after penning a seven-year contract.
During the 2021-2022 season, Felix scored 10 goals in 35 appearances, matching the same goal tally from the campaign before.
Felix scored 10 goals in 35 appearances last year for Atletico as they finished third in LaLiga
United rubbished reports the he had been lined up as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo
Felix starred in Atletico’s 3-0 win over Getafe on Monday, assisting all three goals, as Los Colchoneros began their LaLiga campaign in style after last season’s third place finish.
In total, he has scored 29 goals and added 18 assists in 112 appearances for the club.
Alvaro Morata, who has also been linked to United this summer during Ten Hag’s search for a striker, heaped praise on Felix recently and explained how he loved playing alongside his team-mate at Atletico.
‘The truth is that Joao has a special talent, that last pass. Although also Correa, Lemar, Marcos, Koke… the people behind put up great balls and we have to keep working and run into space,’ he told reporters.
‘I really want to play here, work, play games, there are many competitions and I’m very excited for this season, but as always here.
Fellow Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata hailed Felix and said he ‘has a special talent’
‘They have always treated me very well and I still have to work and give everything for the team. There will be times when it goes better, others worse, but it won’t be for lack of work.’
Meanwhile, Felix explained in June that he had no desire to leave the club this summer and was ‘focused’ on his future at the Wanda Metropolitano.
‘A departure from Atletico is not on the table,’ he told Marca.
‘I’m fine and focused on Atletico. I’m calm about the future, aware of what I can do and I’m fine with myself.’