Former Barcelona forward Joao Felix on potential Real Madrid move: ‘Would have been football’s biggest traitor’

Former Barcelona forward Joao Felix on potential Real Madrid move: ‘Would have been football’s biggest traitor’ Joao Felix has revealed that he has no regrets over missing the chance to join Real Madrid, despite the Spanish giants showing strong interest in him before his move to Atletico Madrid in 2019. The Portuguese forward arrived in Spain as one of Europe’s most exciting young players after breaking through at Benfica.  Atletico ultimately paid €126 million for his signature, making the teenager one of the most expensive players in football history at the time. The move came during a summer when Real Madrid were also keeping a close eye on Felix.  The Spanish giants saw the forward as one of the standout young talents available, but he eventually chose Atletico. His career in Spain did not develop as many expected, as Felix struggled for consistency at Atletico and later spent periods away from the club, including spells with Barcelona and Chelsea. Yet despite everything that followed, the forward insists there is one thing he would not change. Joao Felix admits Real Madrid opportunity passed him by Felix was recently asked about the possibility of having played for Real Madrid and acknowledged that the opportunity was there. Joao Felix was linked to Real Madrid during his Benfica tenure. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) However, his history with Atletico and Barcelona meant that joining Los Blancos would have carried an entirely different meaning. “I would have been football’s biggest traitor. No, no, no. I really enjoyed my time at Barcelona.  “Well, yes, I did miss playing for Real Madrid, but I’m proud to have played for Barcelona,” he said, as per Mundo Deportivo . The Portuguese international spent the majority of his La Liga career with Atletico, having arrived from Benfica for a fee that matched the enormous expectations surrounding him.  He later joined Barcelona, meaning a move to Real Madrid would have required him to cross one of the biggest rivalries in Spanish football. Real Madrid interest never became a transfer Real Madrid’s interest in Felix dates back to his breakthrough campaign at Benfica. The forward had emerged as one of the most exciting teenagers in Europe, and several major clubs were tracking his progress. Joao Felix has never won a game against Real Madrid. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) Atletico eventually won the race, committing a huge fee to bring him to Madrid. The move ultimately produced mixed results, as Felix showed flashes of the ability that had made him such a sought-after prospect, but he never consistently reached the level expected of a player who arrived for €126 million. Fortunately, Real Madrid avoided the financial commitment, while Felix’s career took a very different route from the one many had imagined when he was starring for Benfica. Felix has struggled against Real Madrid There is another curious element to Felix’s relationship with Real Madrid. Despite spending years in La Liga, he has never beaten Los Blancos in competitive football. Across his spells with Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona, Felix has faced Real Madrid around nine or 10 times in official matches without recording a victory. Furthermore, over a significant stretch of his games against Los Blanco s with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea, he failed to register either a goal or an assist.