Barcelona acquired two big names on loan this past summer in order to push further in the Champions League, acquiring João Cancelo from Manchester City and then João Félix from rivals Atlético Madrid.
The jury is still out on both players, as they’ve had real ups-and-downs. Despite their prodigious individual talent, neither player looks like they 100 percent fit what Barcelona want to do.
Félix has been particularly frustrating. The world-class touches and flicks are there, but Félix is too much of a “moments” player and maddeningly inconsistent – just as he was with Atléti and even Chelsea.
Everyone wants to know how Félix can finally fulfill his potential, having been a stunning 126 million euro transfer from Benfica to Atlético Madrid as French icon Antoine Griezmann’s replacement in the capital.
Real Madrid legend Guti sounded off on João Félix, and while his words for the Portuguese international’s mentality were harsh, they were not off the mark either.
🗣️Guti believes Joao Felix is facing a make-or-break 2024 at Barcelona pic.twitter.com/SX2DG7Cu2c
— Football España (@footballespana_) January 21, 2024
The problem is with João Félix and nobody else
Félix’s career is in his own hands and nobody else’s. For years, he frustrated Diego Simeone with his unwillingness to work for the team, moping on the bench, and inability to consistently make an impact in the final third.
On paper, Félix should be one of the best players in the world and competing alongside the likes of Griezmann and Vinícius Júnior for the top individual awards in LaLiga.
Instead, he barely looks like he should be starting for Barcelona and could easily be cut loose at the end of this loan deal, with Atléti left holding the bag for suitors and the entire footballing world still wondering what needs to change for Félix.
Guti says Félix himself needs to change, and, honestly, it’s hard to poke a hole through any of what the iconic LaLiga midfielder is saying about the 24-year-old playmaker.
Félix is still very young and has his entire career ahead of him, but the excuses will wear thin soon – and time is far from infinite.
