Joao Felix and his Atletico Madrid teammate Thomas Lemar has been caught in a bitter training ground bust-up in their first training session after the summer break.
Joao Felix, 23, who is just returning from his loan spell at Premier League side, Chelsea, did not spare the hints as he engaged Thomas Lemar, 27, in a bitter training ground row.
In a viral footage making the rounds on social media, Joao Felix was seen throwing a towel at Thomas Lemar in anger after what appeared to be an argument. Lemar also launched his reprisal attack throwing the towel furiously back at Joao Felix.
Felix seemed to have read Lemar’s intent to launch a reprisal. With his back facing Lemar, he suddenly crouch down and evaded Lemar’s angry fling of the towel.
Joined by his teammates, who were all walking down the training ground, the pair continued to mutter words angrily at each other after the bitter exchange as they walked down the training ground.
Felix’s angry outburst with Thomas Lemar is coming at the back of his dwindling career fortunes at Atletico Madrid under Diego Someone. While Lemar has cemented his place as a priority midfielder for Diego Someone since joining the club from Monaco in 2018, Felix is facing an uncertain future at Civitas Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid.
The Portuguese attacker joined Atletico Madrid on a club record transfer fee of £111million from Benfica in 2019. Felix impressed in his debut season for Atletico Madrid, making 27 La Liga appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals. He made 31 La Liga appearances in his second season before he dropped down the pecking order in Diego Simeone’s squad in 2021/22 season, making 24 La Liga appearances.
Last season, the Portuguese star managed only 14 appearances for the club and was sent on a distress loan spell to Chelsea in the second half of the season. He made 16 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, scoring 4 goals and made 4 Champions League appearances for the club.
While it was not a poor outing with the Premier League club, Chelsea refused to make his loan move a permanent deal with Atletico Madrid reportedly ready to part ways with the Portuguese midfielder.
Diego Simeone has reportedly opened up to Joao Felix he is no longer part of his squad plans for Atletico ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Argentine tactician is ready to let him leave this summer.
Joao Felix joined Atletico Madrid on a seven-year contract till 2026 in 2019 but had extended the contract till 2027 before his fortunes at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium took a downward spiral.
With four years remaining in his contract, the 23-year-old is already on the lookout for a move away from the club. He has been recently linked with a move away to Barcelona with reports claiming the Catalans are closing in on a deal to sign the midfield sensation.
Felix has expressly spoken of his desire to join Barcelona insisting he has always loved and admired the club.
“Barcelona has always been my first choice and I would love to join them.
“It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
His comment seems not to have sit well with Atletico Madrid fans who were angered for his public admiration of their rival and have torn down his plague at Civita Metropolitan Stadium.
Joao Felix has made 131 apearances for Atletico Madrid, scoring 34 goals with 18 assists.
