Benfica ‘open talks to re-sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid for £12.7m’ – less than a TENTH of what they sold him for five years ago – but there is one major problem standing in their way

Benfica have reportedly opened talks with Atletico Madrid over a shock deal to bring back Joao Felix for a fraction of the price five years after they sold him.

Felix became the fourth most expensive player in history in July 2019 when Benfica sold him to Atlético for £114 million.

Five seasons, two loans and a huge row with Atlético manager Diego Simeone later, Benfica want him back for the relatively paltry sum of £12.7million.

This was reported by a Spanish news agency Sportwhich shows Atlético sticking to a transfer fee of over £21 million.

As part of the deal, Benfica would buy 50 percent of the player’s rights, meaning Atlético would be entitled to half of any future fee if they were to sell him.

The Portuguese giants sold Felix to Atletico in 2019 for £114m, the fourth highest transfer fee ever

Felix has struggled to make a positive impression at Atletico and has been loaned out twice

The biggest problem for Benfica is his £6.7million-a-year salary, which would make him the third-highest earner after Angel Di Maris and Juan Bernat, according to Capology.

Selling defender Antonio Silva, 20, is said to help. Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle have all been linked with the centre-back, whose clumsy pass led to Kvivcha Kvaratskhelia’s opening goal in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Georgia.

Atlético would likely want a higher transfer fee given the amount they paid for him, but according to Sport this is the best offer they have had in a while.

Felix, undoubtedly a huge talent, struggled with inconsistency and a falling out with Simeone during his five years at Atlético.

In the 2022-2023 season he was loaned out to Chelsea without success and last season he played for Barcelona, ​​where things eventually went slightly better for him.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but Felix ended up scoring 10 goals and providing 6 assists, a respectable tally.

Barcelona hoped to keep him and fellow loanee Joao Cancelo.

“We want them to continue. Deco is working to make sure they continue for another season under the current circumstances,” club boss Joan Laporta said on the President’s Podcast on Barca One.

Manager Diego Simeone was not impressed with his attitude and even sent him away from the youth academy last summer.

The 24-year-old has had slightly better form at Barça this season, but has been inconsistent

‘[Hansi] Flick thinks they are high-quality players and when he was coaching Bayern he already tried to use Joao Felix. I think Felix could have performed better because he has an extraordinary quality.’

Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Barca have informed agent Jorge Mendes of their intention to keep the two players.

He added: ‘Laporta and Deco agree on the plan, Hansi Flick has already given the green light.

‘Concrete talks with Atlético and Man City have yet to begin, but both players want to stay.’

However, Barcelona’s financial constraints mean it will be difficult to keep both clubs on a permanent basis.

At Atlético, Simeone was never really a fan of Felix’s attitude on and with the ball.

Last summer he was spotted training with Atlético’s youth team and the two reacted coolly when given the chance to speak in public.

So far, he has played once for Portugal at Euro 2024: during the defeat against Georgia.