Wantaway Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix has sensationally admitted it would be a ‘dream’ to play for Barcelona.
The 23-year-old has entered the summer looking for a move away off the back of a disappointing loan spell at Chelsea.
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He scored just four goals in 20 appearances for the Blues in his half-season at Stamford Bridge.
Felix is said to have fallen out with Atletico manager Diego Simeone prior to the move and is now keen to leave the club altogether.
A switch to French giants Paris Saint-Germain this summer has been of interest to him, but he may be eyeing a different destination.
In a statement posted by Fabrizio Romano, he said: “I’d love to play for Barca. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca.
“It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
Some members of the Chelsea fanbase would have liked Felix to stay, but Mauricio Pochettino did not want to keep him at the club.
Aston Villa hold a long-term interest in the Portuguese international, whose contract at Atletico does not expire until 2027.
Felix may have taken inspiration from Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku, who didn’t hold back when asked about the way he left Inter Milan.
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Just four months after re-signing at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2021, Lukaku said in an interview with Sky Italia that he wanted to return to Inter.
After the quotes came to light, he was dropped from the Blues squad that faced Liverpool at the beginning of 2022.
Lukaku went back to Inter on a season-long loan deal last term and it seemed as though he would make a move permanent this summer.
However, they have now pulled out of the race to sign him after advisors working on his behalf held secret talks with Juventus, who are now favourites. Lukaku has not travelled to the USA for Chelsea’s pre-season tour.
