The World Cup has become a showcase for Joao Félix, in the main meaning of the term. Relegated to a residual role in Atlético due to his convulsive situation with Simeone, his possible departure from the club is probable for the first time. In Portugal He confesses to having “more freedom” to develop all his talent and an outstanding performance in the world championship can relaunch his sale. He already has one, against Ghana, with a goal and an assist. and today before Uruguay You already have the lights on.
Despite the decisive contribution of Joao Felix In Portugal’s initial triumph, Simeone, present in Doha, played poisoned irony to value it: «Happy for Joao. It is an ideal tournament for him, short, where you can see beauty, where you fall in love with players like him. He has played with a lot of personality when the team needed him and has participated in all three goals ». The short thing slipped a dart to the inconstancy that is attributed to the Portuguese. The Argentine does not issue his words lightly.
Short, like the margin of confidence that he professes Simeone to his pupil (and the Portuguese to his teacher). Short, like the limit of patience that the coach has left every time the media bring up the Joao affair. Short, like the time that the Portuguese seems to have left with the rojiblanca.
Of Atlético’s last twelve games, Joao has started only two (including the one against Almazán in the Cup…) and as a result of his penultimate clash with Simeone, throwing his bib to the ground included, he asked jorge mendes, his agent, to find him a way out. A game that he had never wanted to contemplate Miguel Ángel Gil (the Portuguese is his biggest bet), for whom it was an “obligation” for Simeone to find “a balance point” with the Portuguese. But the club also surrenders. Drowned by debts and the hole that the elimination of the team in the Champions League has opened (60 million euros are claculating between both gaps), the sale of the Portuguese is already being contemplated. Even in January. Atlético does not want to forget that they paid 126 million euros for him when setting a starting price.
Although at just 23 years of age his market value has fallen, the World Cup can alleviate it. With Simeone it depreciates, but Portugal is something else. And the World Cup is the perfect setting to revalue careers and raise figures. At its premiere he “fell in love”, as Simeone ironized, scoring a beautiful goal and participating in the other two. Assisting in the penalty that was invented Cristiano and stealing the ball in the play that gave rise to the third. Starting from the right, but without the chains that hold him in the Metropolitan on and off the pitch.
In his second test he will have his partner ahead of him gimenez already his friend Luis Suarez, who also knows well about skirmishes with Cholo. And to another mattress legend, Diego Godin. Old guard to stop Joao, who will seek to continue shining in the World Cup showcase. Which paradoxically should keep him away from Atlético. The short tournament has the floor.
