From Portugal: Manchester City ‘ditch’ plans to sign 282-appearance La Liga star

Manchester City and Aston Villa have both abandoned plans to pursue the signature of Atletico Madrid and Portugal star Joao Felix this summer.

The 24-year-old is contracted at Atletico Madrid until 2029 but spent the previous 2023/24 campaign on a season-long loan at Barcelona, with the Portuguese forward having also spent time at Chelsea prior to moving to the Camp Nou.

Felix scored four goals in 16 Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge, and was directly involved in 16 goals in 44 appearances for Barcelona last season.

The versatile attacker had been linked with potentially becoming the latest Portuguese star to move to the Etihad Stadium, following in the footsteps of Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes.

Felix has made over 280 career appearances and is set to leave Atletico Madrid ahead of the new season, with rumoured options in both the Premier League and Liga Portugal.

The forward featured at the European Championship in Germany this summer, however a move to Manchester City is not on the cards for the 24-year-old, despite Atletico Madrid’s transfer interest in Julian Alvarez.

Sport Witness relay claims from Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, who report that both Manchester City and Aston Villa have ‘ditched’ plans to try and sign the 24-year-old from the Metropolitano this summer.

Etihad executives are claimed to be ‘unwilling’ to pursue a deal for the Portuguese international, with the Blues’ stance paving the way for Benfica to attempt to sign the versatile forward this summer on a temporary or permanent basis.

Manchester City’s decision could also impact Atletico Madrid’s continued pursuit of striker Alvarez this summer, with the La Liga club unable to finance a move for the Argentinian and now unable to offer Felix in a cash-plus-player swap deal.

Alvarez is wanted by both Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and the striker is currently in France representing Argentina at the Olympic Games.