Joao Felix “cannot escape responsibility” at Atletico Madrid, says Mourinho
Jose Mourinho believes compatriot Joao Felix “cannot escape the responsibility” which comes with the huge fee Atletico Madrid paid to sign him from Benfica.
The 19-year-old completed a club-record £113m move to last season’s La Liga runners-up over the summer and has impressed during pre-season.
Felix under pressure? Five key things to know…
- Felix scored 20 goals in 43 games for Benfica last season.
- His form helped them seal the Portuguese title.
- It also prompted Atleti to pay £113m for his services.
- Felix has impressed during pre-season.
- But Mourinho believes his fee puts a huge responsibility on his shoulders.
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But despite his promising pre-season performances, Mourinho says that Felix will have nowhere to hide thanks to his fee and believes it is a signing which puts pressure on Atleti to deliver major silverware.
“He has a challenge of the dimension of his talent and of the investment that the club has made with him,” Mourinho explained.
“I believe that he cannot escape from that responsibility. It does not matter if you are 18, 20 or 25, he is inherited in the talent and responsibility that he has. And that responsibility is the responsibility of the numbers. He cannot run away.
24': Joao Felix scores
34': Joao Felix scoresA double from the Atletico Madrid wonder-kid to give them the lead against Juventus. pic.twitter.com/BheR1GQoWf
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“The investment level of Atletico Madrid leaves them with the responsibility of playing to win La Liga or the Champions League.
“Of course, Real Madrid and Barcelona – for power, economic potential, culture or quality – always have to be there. Atletico, in recent years, he lived behind these responsibilities, but the level of investment they make is incredible.
“It is time to say ‘here we are, we are great, we want to be great and we are here to win’.”
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Felix arrives at the Wanda Metropolitano as part of a massive overhaul of Diego Simeone’s playing squad, with the likes of Kieran Trippier and Marcos Llorente replacing the departures of the long-serving Juanfran, Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann.
Los Colchoneros kick off their La Liga campaign at home to Getafe on Sunday.
