According to HITC Football, Atletico Madrid is considering offering Joao Felix in a bid to acquire Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez.
Felix, who previously played on loan at Chelsea and recently returned from Barcelona, does not fit into Atletico’s current plans. This scenario opens up the possibility for the Premier League champions to sign the Portuguese international.
However, there is little evidence suggesting that Manchester City is interested in recruiting Felix, especially given their intent to retain Alvarez. Pep Guardiola’s team is confident that the Argentinian forward is not for sale, despite Atletico’s interest.
So, why is Atletico pursuing Alvarez? The La Liga club is aware that the 24-year-old is reportedly dissatisfied at the Etihad. Alvarez desires a more integral role within the team.
Although he started 39 games across all competitions last season, he missed some crucial matches, including the Champions League quarter-final legs against Real Madrid and the final four Premier League games.
Atletico also believes that Alvarez is interested in moving to the Wanda Metropolitano. With neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona interested in signing him, Alvarez sees Atletico as his primary option for playing in Spain.
Negotiations are expected to be lengthy and contentious due to Manchester City’s valuation of Alvarez. Reports suggest that Atletico is prepared to pay £70 million for Alvarez if Felix is not part of the deal. However, this figure is likely lower than City’s asking price.
Given that Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are unlikely to enter a bidding war, Atletico may feel confident in sticking to their proposed amount. This strategy could potentially lead to prolonged negotiations as they try to secure Alvarez within their budget constraints.
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