Joao Felix: Atletico Madrid’s €126million wonderboy with the world at his feet

The 19-year-old is taking European football by storm but for those who know him his journey to the very top is only just beginning

Joao Felix (AFP/Getty Images)

“I’m already in love with Joao Felix,” was overheard in the stands about 15 minutes into the €126million youngster’s first game for Atletico Madrid, during a friendly against second tier Numancia at the Trofeo Jesus Gil in mid-July.

The Portuguese teenager’s technical quality and natural charisma were clear as he immediately clicked with both his new teammates and supporters. Within weeks Joao Felix was the most hyped player as La Liga’s 2019/20 campaign began, helped by startling goals against neighbours Real Madrid and countryman Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus during pre-season.

By his official debut against Getafe at the Wanda Metropolitano on opening day, he was already a marked man. Opposition defenders were out to test if the fresh faced kid was physically up to the challenge. The answer came with a thrilling sixty yard run from his own half, hurdling four different attempts to take him out, before he was finally felled inside the penalty area, to roars from smitten home fans.

“Joao Felix is an amazing player, very complete,” ex-Benfica youth chief Joao Tralhao tells The Independent. “His talent is very easy to see. But what I like most is his mental qualities. If he is kicked or punched, he will not cry, he will fight. That amazing run with the ball, dribbling and resilience, everything we like to see in a young player. It showed what Joao is capable of doing.”

Week two brought Joao a first La Liga assist, with a perfectly weighted through-ball for teammate Vitolo to score the winner at Leganes. Game three brought his first goal for Atletico, when he showed awareness and composure to finish after strike partner Diego Costa had rumbled behind the Eibar defence. Tralhao says he has not been surprised at that impact, recalling how eager the then 15 year old was to learn when he arrived at the Benfica academy.

“When I saw him for the first time, he was not so developed physically, but he was an amazing talent,” he says. “He is very, very clever, likes to learn, to try and understand what he needs to do in a game, to fulfil his coach's expectations. That is what you like to see in a youth player - his decision making. He understands the game like the best players, he sees things that others cannot.”

Joining Benfica’s academy having previously spent seven years at rivals Porto, Joao Felix settled quickly, leading an U19s team coached by Tralhao past Real Madrid to the 2016/17 Uefa Youth League final. The following year he stepped up to Benfica's reserves, where he became the Portuguese second tier’s youngest player ever, then its youngest goal scorer, then its youngest to get a hat-trick.

The progress through 2018/19 was just as rapid. He marked his second substitute appearance for Benfica’s senior side with a late equaliser against city rivals Sporting Lisbon. A regular starter by Christmas, he scored 11 goals and eight assists in the last 19 games as his team clinched the Liga NOS title. There was also April’s stunning Europa League treble against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“I was not surprised he was the Portuguese League's best player last year,” says Tralhao. “To be honest I expected it. With the U19s, he was at another level to everyone else. Of course you need time to adapt to the different intensity and demands. But he was ready for the challenge.”

It was clear Joao Felix was not long for the Estadio da Luz, where his release clause was raised to €50 million, then quickly again to €120m. Although Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all sent scouts, often financially troubled Atletico secured his signature, with the support of Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes.

It is particularly striking how quickly Joao Felix has settled at Atletico, where new signings are often shocked by the physical requirements of fitness coach Oscar Ortega, and the tactical strictures required by Simeone.

Joao Felix signed for Atletico Madrid in July (AFP/Getty Images)

“[Simeone] is the right coach for him,” says Tralhao. “He is very demanding, and Joao can learn a lot from him. I am not surprised at his immediate impact, because of his mental qualities and his talent.”

Atletico's senior players have shown an immediate respect for the youngster, with seasoned internationals like Koke and Costa looking to him to direct the team's attacks, so far either on the right of midfield or as a roving number 10.

“What I like the most in Joao, in terms of tactical approach, is that he can play everywhere,” Tralhao says. “He can be a number 10. He can be a winger. He can be a nine, with more mobility like we have seen with other players. My favourite position for him is as a false nine.”

The ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’ tag is quickly attached to any promising young Portuguese talent, but did not seem to faze Joao Felix at his Atletico presentation in July. “Cristiano is Cristiano, I want to be myself. I am here to make my history, to be remembered as Joao Felix,” he said quietly, but firmly. Taking over Antoine Griezmann’s number seven shirt has also not appeared to worry him, while he has openly compared his style to other storied names including Rui Costa and Kaka.

“I know Joao very well and he does not feel pressure from outside,” says Tralhao. “The pressure he feels is to train every day at his limits. He is a very, very positive guy. He comes from a very close family, they support him completely. We have many examples, some good, some not. But everyone around Joao is an example of how it should be.”

Although outshining Ronaldo when their clubs met pre-season in Stockholm, Joao Felix has remained in his national captain’s shadow during their three games together for Portugal.

Felix has settled in well in Madrid (AFP/Getty Images)

“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player from Portugal and one of the best players in history,” Tralhao says. “Bernardo Silva is another of Portugal's best players now. Joao is on the right track to be up with them, and to be the next leader of the Portugal national team. He needs to keep developing his qualities, to train at his best level every day, but he has everything to do that. Over the next two years Joao will step up levels and become one of the best players in the world for sure. But his main challenge is a collective challenge - to compete for the La Liga title and the Champions League. That collective objective is the most important now, as Atletico can win the biggest trophies.”

Next up on that path is Wednesday's Champions League Group D opener at home to Juventus. Ronaldo hangs over this game too, as his hat-trick in Turin overturned Atletico's 2-0 first leg win when the teams met in last season's UCL last 16.

Simeone's side took another blow last weekend, losing their 100% La Liga record with Joao Felix substituted early in a deserved 0-2 defeat at Real Sociedad.

The atmosphere at the stadium on Wednesday is sure to be optimistic however, with fans confident a new-look team is emerging with a young and attractive creative focal point, who has overcome every challenge faced so far.

If it was love at first sight in Burgo de Osma in July, a decisive performance in an Atletico win at the Wanda over Ronaldo and Juve would see Joao Felix really taken to rojiblanco hearts.