Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix has been linked with a January exit amid reports of issues in his relationship with manager Diego Simeone.
The Portuguese international became the Spanish club's record signing when he joined from Benfica in a deal worth £113m back in 2019. Manchester United are among the clubs to have been linked with a move for the forward, who turns 23 in November, but Atleti ruled out a move over the summer.
Now, though, there have been suggestions the situation may have changed. Felix was left on the bench for Atleti's midweek Champions League game against Club Brugge, and reports in Portugal point to allegations of bullying against Simeone which could pave the way for a January move.
According to A Bola, Joao Felix "wants to leave" Atleti after "losing patience" with Simeone. The publication claims the final straw came on Wednesday, when the forward was sent to warm up three times without being brought on.
"Bola knows that a health professional linked to Atlético Madrid and who is following what is happening, classified the situation of bullying and informed those responsible for the club," the publication claims. The incident is said to not be a one-off, with the report claiming there is now no turning back when it comes to the relationship between player and manager.
Joao Felix started Atleti's first four games of the season, as well as their first two in the Champions League. However, he has been a substitute in every game since the international break, playing just 29 minutes across the Rojiblancos' four matches in October.
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"First I thought: we are going to finish the match with Cunha on the right, Joao on the left and Morata up front, but then I saw that they had the strength to come out with counterattacks," Simeone said after the midweek draw at the Wanda Metropolitano. The result leaves Atleti third in their group, with the 2016 finalists needing something from their games at home to Bayer Leverkusen and away at Porto to prolong their Champions League run.
"The anxiety was generating us wanting to win the match, and wanting to attack, and I understood that the strength in the middle of the field could generate more security for us since Griezmann began to lose his energy. To attack he was fine, but to hold Axel [Witsel] trained.
"I think it went well from what we were looking for, which was to continue to support the team in attack, continue to have scoring chances, continue playing the game so as not to lose it and stay out of the Champions League," the Argentine explained
