Barcelona and Atletico Madrid agree on a €80 million fee for Felix, with two payment alternatives being discussed.
In the final stages of the 2023 summer transfer window, Barcelona took a significant gamble by parting ways with both Ansu Fati and Ez Abde, thereby reducing their first-team forwards to just Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres.
This decision followed Ousmane Dembele’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain for €50 million, leaving a considerable void in the squad’s attacking options.
As the transfer window neared its end, Barcelona urgently needed to secure another forward, and they found their solution in Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix. He was brought in on a season-long loan for the 2023/24 season, without an option to buy.
Felix arrived after a lackluster loan spell at Chelsea, with modest expectations. However, his performance at Barcelona has been exceptional, with three goals and two assists in just nine appearances.
The club, as well as the fans, have been thoroughly impressed, to the extent that they have already reached a written agreement with Atletico Madrid for his permanent transfer in 2024, reportedly amounting to €80 million, according to SPORT.
Felix reveals he is having a good time at Barcelona
Barcelona, grappling with financial challenges, cannot make an upfront payment of this magnitude to Atletico. Consequently, they are exploring two potential solutions.
Option 1: Installments or Second Loan
One possibility being considered is to split the €80 million fee into three installments, each approximately €25 million. While this approach would make the transfer more feasible, the club remains cautious about investing such a substantial sum in a single player.
Option 2: Second Loan with Obligation to Buy
The alternative route to securing Felix’s services involves negotiating another loan arrangement with Atletico, this time with a compulsory purchase clause in the summer of 2025. However, this arrangement would likely require Barcelona to pay more than the current €400,000 salary and potentially include a loan fee, similar to the one Chelsea had in the previous season.
Under this scenario, the report suggests that Felix could be available for approximately €40 million, a more realistic scenario for Barcelona given their financial constraints.
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