La Liga: 'I'd love him to stay personally, but I don't think that's the player's idea' – Atletico Madrid chief confirms Joao Felix exit talks

Atletico Madrid's CEO Gil Marin has confirmed that the rumours around Joao Felix's future are true and the Portugal forward could be on the way out of the club.

Since joining Atletico Madrid as a teenager in 2019 for a club-record fee of €126 million, Joao Felix has struggled to justify the club's expensive layout with middling performances and has finally decided that it is time to call it quits on his adventure in Madrid.

Joao Felix's struggles at Atletico Madrid

Joao Felix's return of 33 goals and 18 assists in 129 appearances is a far cry from what Atletico expected when they signed a generationally talented forward from Benfica.

In recent times, Felix has even struggled with playing time, starting only five of the club's 14 league matches, and has fallen out with manager Diego Simeone over where he fits in the coach's style of play and the amount of time he has spent on the bench.

Joao Felix has decided to leave Atletico Madrid AFP

The situation has thus become untenable, and even though he is still highly rated by the club's executives, there seems to be no way for Atletico Madrid to keep hold of their starlet.

Where is Joao Felix headed next?

Felix is not short of suitors and had already been linked with moves to both Manchester clubs, as well as Arsenal, and his performances at the World Cup in Qatar would have done wonders for his prospects in the transfer market.

Joao Felix celebrating his goal for Portugal at the World Cup AFP

He has contributed to three goals in three appearances, helping Portugal reach the quarterfinals, and has shown a glimpse of what he can do in a system that suits him.