Atlético Madrid reject a €130m bid from Manchester United for João Félix

Atlético Madrid have rejected an offer of €130 million for João Félix from Manchester United. The Madrid club would need to receive a huge bid to be persauded to part with the Portuguese forward and they maintain that their biggest stars are not for sale this summer.

The Premier League side are willing to break their transfer record for the young attacker but the club have told United that João Félix will not leave the Wanda Metropolitano this window. Atlético have pointed to the player’s release clause, currently set at €350 million.

It is thought that coach Diego Simeone and the club hierarchy consider João Félix one of the team’s most important players and one on which they hope to build a winning team going forward.

Would the player be open to a Manchester move?

For his part the 22-year-old is thought to be very happy in Madrid, where he has played since a 2019 move from Benfica. The young attacker is fully integrated into Simeone’s set-up and believes the club can challenge for silverware this season.

The Portuguese forward has enjoyed a positive relationship with Atlético fans and reports suggest he feels valued by both supporters and the club. In recent seasons, despite not making any major signings, Atlético have shown themselves able keep their prized assets and withstand the advances of Europe’s richest clubs.

Manchester United are in dire need of reinforcements after a disastrous start to the season and the club’s unpopular owners are under pressure to invest heavily in the remaining two weeks of the transfer market. This could bring about further bids and a bumper contract offer for the player, but it is not known if they could provide an appealing sporting project for the young star.

United turn to João after horror start

The 20-time English champions have suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two games of the campaign, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table. Last Saturday’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford led to an outpouring of frustration from supporters.

A week earlier United were forced to field a makeshift front line in the opening day loss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, with new signing Christian Eriksen leading the line. Injuries and poor form have weakened their offensive options and the club have been linked with numerous attackers, including Félix’s teammate Matheus Cunha, in recent days.

The signing of João Félix would add some much-needed quality to the Premier League club’s misfiring strike force, but they will be weary of the effect that a failed pursuit could have on an already disillusioned fanbase. Just two games into Ten Hag’s reign there is a real sense that the squad needs significant improvement if the new coach is to see his ambitious plans realised at Old Trafford.