Atletico Madrid ‘turned down £135million bid from a Premier League club for Joao Felix this season’

Atletico Madrid rejected a bid of £135million for Joao Felix from an unnamed Premier League side earlier in the season, according to reports.

The Spanish side shelled out £122m to sign the Portuguese from Benfica ahead of Antoine Griezmann departing for LaLiga rivals Barcelona.

But Goal report that despite the 20-year-old only joining last summer, it did not prevent an intermediary acting on behalf of an English top-flight team approaching their LaLiga counterparts about a transfer prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Atletico Madrid reportedly rejected a £135m bid for Joao Felix from a Premier League side

Felix has failed to live up to expectations at Atletico following his £122m move from Benfica

The report adds that the bid – which would have seen Felix move this summer – was seen as being serious but was immediately rejected by Atletico.

Felix has yet to live up to the mammoth price tag, having scored just eight goals and recorded three assists in 29 appearances this season in between niggling ankle injuries.

Diego Simeone however would have been encouraged with his first game back following the resumption of LaLiga following the coronavirus lockdown, after scoring twice in Atletico’s 5-0 away win over Osasuna. 

And reports claim an unnamed Premier League side made a serious bid for the Portuguese

The claim comes a couple of months after reports in France that Manchester United had identified the Portuguese star as one of their targets.

However, Felix signed a seven-year deal when agreeing terms with Atletico, who are therefore in a strong position to keep hold of the forward, should they wish to.

Moreover, it now remains to be seen whether leading clubs will be able to afford transfers on such a scale for the foreseeable future, with the Covid-19 pandemic having had a serious effect on club finances.

Goal also indicate that Manchester City were interested in Felix before his move to Atletico, but insists it is unclear if Pep Guardiola’s side made the more recent follow-up approach. 

Felix scored twice in Atletico’s win at Osasuna in their first game since LaLiga’s resumption