A sensational pre-season by Atletico Madrid’s new wonder-kid Joao Felix has many rojiblanco fans and pundits already thinking they have got themselves a bargain at €126 million.
The 19-year-old was the match-winner in Atletico’s 2-1 International Champions Cup victory over Juventus in Stockholm on Saturday, with two superb goals proving the difference as his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo was completely overshadowed.
After Juve had dominated possession through the opening stages, the new rojiblanco talisman took over the game. First, he reacted quicker than Giorgio Chiellini to guide an awkward Kieran Trippier strike to the net from 12 yards [albeit with a slight deflection off teammate Thomas Lemar].
Soon after Juve had equalised through Sami Khedira, the kid appeared again with a perfectly timed run behind Mathias de Ligt to meet Lemar’s lofted pass and stretched to smash an unstoppable first-time finish past keeper Szczesny.
The past, the present and the future#AtletiJuve pic.twitter.com/Mxo5T1r2hs
— Unibet (@unibet) August 10, 2019
Those were only two moments in a super impressive all-round display in which the young Portuguese was at the heart of everything Diego Simeone’s side did during his time on the pitch, and that was in keeping with a dazzling start to his Atletico career.
Five pre-season outings have brought four goals and three assists, and a starring role in a 7-3 victory over city neighbours Real Madrid. While it has to be kept in mind that the former Benfica starlet has yet to make a competitive appearance for Atletico, very few around the Wanda Metropolitano are talking any more about Antoine Griezmann’s messy exit earlier this summer.
The display against Juventus made the front of both AS and Marca on Sunday morning – and he is easily outdoing both Barca’s new attacker Griezmann and Madrid’s latest galactico Eden Hazard in the hype stakes ahead of La Liga’s kick off next weekend.
#LaPortada '¡Es un crack!' ☕️ ¡Buenos días y #FelizDomingo! https://t.co/TGaR2R2AQh
— MARCA (@marca) August 11, 2019
It is particularly striking how quickly Joao Felix has settled into the always demanding regime of Atletico coach Diego Simeone. The physical effort required in pre-season by rojiblanco fitness coach Oscar Ortega is legendary, and has shocked many new signings in the past. But the skinny but strong Felix has not had any problems even with the steep man-made hill ‘El Profe’ had installed at the club’s base at Los Angeles de San Rafael this summer.
Simeone made a point of sticking close to Felix during the first weeks of pre-season, and gave him his first game in the club’s opening friendly against second tier Numancia at the Trofeo Jesus Gil in mid-July. The small crowd at the game was wowed by their first glimpses of the kid’s technical quality. A middle-aged female fan sat close to Unibet in the stands was overheard telling her partner that “I’m already in love with Joao Felix”, as a sweet first-time flick from the kid sent strike partner Diego Costa through on goal.
Simeone has also been working hard tactically with his new signing, who has featured both on the right of midfield and as a roving number 10 so far. A delicious assist for Costa’s goal in a 3-0 win against the MLS All Stars showed that, despite their differences in age and appearance, the two were already on a similar wavelength.
That Joao Felix assist was pic.twitter.com/HDZd7hfiuC
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) August 1, 2019
What first stands out is the kid’s technical quality, how he always seems to have more time and space than any of his teammates – even when playing alongside Spain internationals Koke, Saul and Alvaro Morata.
But the most startling of his showings so far – especially his goals – has been his anticipation of events. Like only the very top players, Felix seems to know in advance where the ball is going to drop in the area, then has the composure to finish efficiently without any fuss or extra gloss.
“Joao has many abilities,” Simeone said in Stockholm on Saturday. “He is adapting very quickly to what the team needs. He has vision which allows him to adapt to many positions, and the best thing is he really wants to learn. Talent is innate but that motivation to become a better player is the shortest path to performing."
Joao Felix will score a lot of goals for Atletico Madrid this season
And it looks like Kieran Trippier will get a lot of assists #Atleti #THFCpic.twitter.com/R1a0mnBIFP
— GiveMeSport Football (@GMS__Football) August 10, 2019
While other new signings including England international Kieran Trippier, Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi and ex-Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente have also settled well, Felix’s impact is the main reason that Atletico fans are super optimistic ahead of the new season. It is such a big change from the doom and gloom last June when Griezmann was leaving along with veterans Diego Godin, Felipe Luis and Juanfran, and previous young hopes Lucas Hernandez and Rodrigo.
The warm-ups could not really have gone any better for Simeone’s side, who won all six of their games, scoring 17 times and conceding just five. The scale of the victory over Madrid in the US, and revenge against last year's Champions League conquerers Juve, were particularly sweet.
Again, it is just pre-season, but the mood could not be better ahead of Getafe's visit to the Wanda on Sunday evening. If Joao Felix brings his pre-season form to competitive action, the worry will no longer be whether he is worth the money paid, but how long Atletico will be able to hang on to him.
