“The club does what it wants” – Guti claims Real Madrid snubbed Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho
Real Madrid icon Guit says he proposed Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho to the La Liga giants during their youth, but his former club decided against signing the duo. The attacking pair have encountered a difficult recent periods in their careers but were touted as future superstars while rising through the youth ranks.
Guti watched Joao Felix, 24, at youth level in the Youth League and was stunned by the Portuguese ace’s passing abilities. He told El Chiringuito TV:
“I saw him (Joao Felix) in the Youth League and this kid was valuable, it was ridiculous how he played against the others. He passed everyone. This kid had to be signed. I told Real Madrid that. I was coaching Real Madrid’s youth teams in the Youth League and were in the semi-finals against Joao Felix.“
Felix’s impressive performances at youth level are unsurprising given his meteoric rise at Benfica, which led to a €127.2 million move to Atletico Madrid in 2019, shortly after winning the Kopa Trophy. Guti added that Felix was one of several stars who shined while he watched the Youth League, including Manchester United‘s Sancho:
“He scored three goals. But I didn’t even need to tell Real Madrid, the club followed this type of player. In the end, you pass on information and the club does what it wants with it. I saw players like him, like [Jadon] Sancho from Dortmund, in the Youth League, about whom I also said ‘This player is worth signing’.”
Felix has struggled at Atletico since his big-money move five years ago, managing 34 goals and 18 assists in 131 games across competitions. He’s closing in on a move to Chelsea, hoping to reignite his stagnating career. Guti touched on the Portugal international’s fall from grace:
“That’s what happened (about being signed for €126 million), he was 19 years old, he came from a slightly lower league, he came as a star, paying what he was paid for and to a club where they’re going to demand a lot from him from day one. Maybe he wasn’t ready for that.”
“I believe” – Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo tipped Joao Felix to shine at Atletico Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo spoke highly of Joao Felix and his move to the Wanda Metropolitano when his compatriot headed to Spain from Portugal. Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer put Los Blancos’ rivalry with Los Colchoneros to one side to predict a bright future for the forward (via Chronicle Live):
“Can he (Felix) repeat my successes in Spain? I believe that a lot because he is an excellent player with a lot of potential who can evolve.”
Felix is the fifth most expensive signing in history and the most expensive signing in Atletico’s history. Many, like Ronaldo, expected him to excel under Diego Simeone but that hasn’t happened. He spent last season on loan at Barcelona, racking up 10 goals and six assists in 44 games across competitions, but is now Chelsea-bound.