Joao Félix throws the bib after not playing against Bruges

In addition to a draw (0-0) that leaves Atlético on the brink of KO in the Champions League, the match against Bruges at the Metropolitano revealed the divorce between Joao Félix and Cholo Simeone. The Portuguese did not participate in the match despite the fact that he did warm-up exercises on three occasions. When Witsel finally came on instead of Griezmann, a controversial move by the Argentine coach that was not well seen from the stands because the goal urged Atlético, the Portuguese’s frustration became clear.

First, he threw down his bib as a sign of complaint as he went to the bench. But the story did not stop there, since minutes after the clash of the mattresses against the Belgian champion, already qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League, the ‘Menino’ ‘liked’ a message that asked him to come back to the team where he came from, Benfica. “Here you are respected, come home,” said the tweet to which Joao Félix responded with a ‘like.’

Joao Félix, the most expensive player in the history of Atlético, who paid 128 million for him, has not yet scored in this course, which should be his definitive takeoff, and has been in the spotlight during the week. After Correa’s victory and two goals against Girona, Cholo praised the Argentine for his way of rebelling, in what was interpreted as implicit criticism of the Portuguese.

In the run-up to the duel against Bruges, however, the Argentine coach tried to assume his responsibility for Joao’s lack of success at Atlético in the face of public opinion. «Everything bad that he does is that I do it even worse. All the frustration he has is that I haven’t been able to give him everything he needs to show the talent and the football he has. Everything is my responsibility. Sure,” said the coach.

The situation is so complex that some media even assure that the Portuguese is determined to leave Atlético after the World Cup in Qatar and that the rojiblanco club would be willing to listen to interesting offers for the young Portuguese footballer. The problem is being able to recover the very high investment made by him.