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João Félix has said that he never adapted to Atletico Madrid or Diego Simeone’s ideas after making a scintillating start to his Barcelona career.
Félix, 23, has scored three times in his first two starts for Barça after joining the club on a season-long loan from Atletico earlier this month.
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The Portugal forward signed for Atletico from Benfica for €126 million ($134m) in 2019, but he never quite lived up to expectations during four seasons playing under coach Simeone.
“When things are going badly in football for someone, you have to make a change,” Félix said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo on Thursday.
“I did it before going to Chelsea [on loan in the second half last season] and now coming to Barcelona because it was not going well [at Atletico].
“I didn’t adapt to the club’s or the coach’s ideas, but I always tried to do the best I could. I have had good times there as well.”
Félix turned down interest from Saudi Arabia to wait on Barça’s interest, with a deal eventually going through on the final day of the summer transfer window.
In order to get the loan over the line, Felix had to agree to a substantial wage cut due to Barca’s financial problems.
“It’s true I gave up a significant part of my salary, but I needed a change,” he added.
“I needed to come to a place where I can play my style of football and I have always said I think this is the ideal place.
“Things are going well — I didn’t expect to start so well — and it was an effort I needed to make to be able to find joy playing football again.”
Félix scored on his first start against Real Betis last weekend and followed it up with a brace in the 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Those results prompted Barça coach Xavi Hernandez to claim his side are playing their best football since he took over in 2021.
The signing of Félix has contributed to that upturn in form, but another new signing, João Cancelo, has also played an important role since joining on loan from Manchester City.
“In terms of quality, I think he’s the best full-back I have ever played with,” Félix said of club and international teammate Cancelo.
“He has the quality of a No. 10. He even likes to play as a No. 10 and says that he will end his career playing as a No. 10 back in his hometown with his local club.
“He’s an extraordinary player. He has added a lot to the team. Wherever he has played, he has brought so much and always won a lot of trophies.”