Manchester United could face competition from Italian giants Juventus as they attempt to seal a deal for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Portuguese forward as they attempt to find a successor for his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter quit Old Trafford last month in the aftermath of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
Felix’s employers Atletico Madrid have triggered a frenzy over the former Benfica starlet’s signature. They have reportedly made the decision to sell him having previously been against the prospect of cashing in. It is suggested that a disagreement with manager Diego Simoene has seen the club change their stance.
United have regularly been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, whilst Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle are thought to be interested. Super-agent Jorge Mendes is expected in England this week as he attempts to facilitate a deal for his client but interest from Juventus could throw another spanner into the works.
According to CalcioMercato, the Old Lady are ‘hoping’ to swap Felix for forward Dusan Vlahovic following the Serbian’s indifferent start to the campaign. The 22-year-old forward only arrived from Fiorentina in January, scoring nine goals in all competitions during his first half-season.
He has followed that up with another seven strikes this term but could very quickly be on the way out of Turin. It remains to be seen if a swap deal can be facilitated but both strikers are apparently admired by their potential future employers.
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Felix is likely to reach a decision on his future sooner rather than later having previously suggested that he was not entertaining the prospect of a transfer. He said: "I am focused on the World Cup.
“100 per cent on the World Cup and having a great World Cup. We are thinking of having a great tournament and on the Portuguese. I will talk about Atletico when the World Cup is over."
Portugal exited the World Cup at the hands of surprise package Morocco, leaving Felix scheduled to return to the Wanda Metropolitano ahead of the January transfer window opening next month. The young forward has been in Madrid since a big-money move from Portuguese giants Benfica back in 2019.
He has made 129 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals in that time. Felix is under contract until the summer of 2026.
Should United get beaten to his signature by Juventus, then they could potentially turn to his international teammate Goncalo Ramos. The Benfica forward made headlines with a hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup and there is expected to be plenty of interest in his services.
