Atletico Madrid’s president has insisted that Joao Felix still has a future with the LaLiga giants despite all the evidence seeming to suggest the opposite as Manchester United start to circle

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has tried to quash talk that Joao Felix is unhappy in the Spanish capital as reports link the forward with a move to Manchester United.

The former Golden Boy winner spent the second half of last season plying his trade on loan in the Premier League with a six-month stint at Chelsea. While there were certainly flashes of Felix’s brilliance in that time, a red card on his debut meant he was always playing catch-up after suspension and the Blues were in complete disarray for much of his spell there.

Now back with Atletico, things have hardly got off to a flyer as Felix was made to train away from the rest of the first team during the first session back on Monday. Following that training session, the 23-year-old is believed to have held frank talks with the club’s sporting director Andrea Berta.

In those talks it is thought that Felix made clear he is unhappy with his situation at Atletico and has encouraged his agent Jorge Mendes to try and find him a new club before the summer window closes.

Felix certainly does not have a shortage of potential suitors, with United one of just three English top-flight sides linked with a move for the former Benfica sensation. Newcastle and Aston Villa are both also believed to be keeping tabs on the situation.

Despite this, Atletico president Cerezo has made clear that there is no problem with Felix, telling the public: “We are happy to have a player of the quality of Joao Felix. Fortunately for us, he plays for Atlético.

Joao Felix has been linked with a move to Man United ( Image: Getty Images)

“He is a player much loved by everyone. To this day and until the contrary is proven, he is an Atlético player for many seasons.”

With all that being said, Cerezo was pressed for further comment regarding Felix’s frustration during the last session, but he opted to make light of it and insist his demeanour was purely down to the fitness struggles that come with returning to pre-season.

“When you finish your vacation and when they give you those physical beatings [back in training], you undoubtedly get p****d off. You get up at eight instead of 11, I wouldn’t be happy either.”

For all of Cerezo’s updates, the writing seems on the wall for Felix’s Atletico career. He has been ᵴtriƥped of his number seven shirt, which has since been given to Antoine Griezmann. The player’s comments at the tail-end of last season suggested he was open to remaining at Stamford Bridge.

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“I don’t know yet my future,’ he said, which casts further doubt on Felix staying at Atletico. “It’s a top club. Everyone in the club was very good to me, my team-mates [have been] unbelievable. And I really like to be here.”