After a spell of poor performances, João Félix’s future at the club is starting to be called into question by fans and those within the club alike. Only Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, is still adamant about making Félix’s signing permanent.
AS is reporting that there is now a debate within the club as to whether the 24-year-old is the solution they are looking for, given his lack of consistency. After a promising start to his Barcelona career and an important goal against his parent club, Atlético Madrid, the forward’s performance levels have since dropped.
However, it was in the most recent game against bottom-of-the-league Almería that things came to a head, and Xavi’s patience was broken. There have been previous occasions when Xavi has shown his frustration with the forward for his perceived lack of intensity, but against Almería, Félix was taken off for the second half in a game that the Catalan side went on to win 3-2. After a poor show in the first half, Xavi turned to the bench as he looked for greater intensity upfront.
The injury to Gavi, who will now miss the rest of the season, will likely ensure Félix’s spot in the first 11 for the season, but it is believed that the club is considering other options, with Tottenham’s Giovanni Lo Celso being a name that has been touted.
While Laporta has continued to back the Portuguese player and has frequently spoken of his intentions to turn the loan into a permanent deal, it is clear that within the club and amongst the fans, patience is wearing thin, and if his performances don’t improve, the club is unlikely to meet the high fee that Atlético are demanding.
GSFN | Finn Entwistle
