Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix has revealed how he has been in touch with some of Manchester United’s players ahead of facing them in the Champions League.
The 22-year-old is set to be one of Atletico’s biggest threats when United come up against Diego Simeone’s side in the last-16 of the competition later this month.
The Portuguese international looks to be finding his feet again after struggling with injuries following his move from Benfica in 2019, which saw him become one of the most expensive players in the world.
And he’s relishing the opportunity to come up against some of his international team-mates when he visits Old Trafford, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot all having played alongside him with Portugal.
“It is very good to play against your friends,” Felix told The Athletic.
“It is always fun, like we are playing in the garden. With Bruno, we exchanged messages when the draw was made.
“Bruno is a very, very good player. It is very easy to play with him. When he has the ball, he always chooses the best option, to give you a chance to score. That is why he gets a lot of assists.
“Cristiano is a role model for all of us in the national team, so he gives us a lot of good advice, and we like to listen.”
Felix, like many players, has taken a lot from watching Ronaldo over the years, before getting the chance to play alongside the United legend, with Ronaldo one of the Atletico star’s biggest influences.
“(I liked to watch) Kaka, Cristiano and Messi for all that they do,” Felix added.
“And Neymar, too, the way he plays, the way he dribbles, the way he has fun with the ball. That was always a player I liked to watch. I would just watch games because of him.
“I always liked to go past defenders. It is a great way to play. When I can do it, I try it. The fans enjoy it.”
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