Simeone needs João Félix to take flight. The LaLiga leader is walking strong and does not show many signs of weakness, although he must improve some aspects for the second part of the season. And one of them is the performance of the Portuguese striker, who has stalled in the last month and a half. Recovering the best version of João Félix is right now one of the great goals of the Atlético coach, since the footballer has lost the status of starter and essential player in the Madrid team.
João Félix has played 22 official competition matches: 15 from LaLiga, one from the Cup and six from the Champions League. He has eight goals, five in the league championship and three in the European tournament. And four assists, all in LaLiga. Some numbers that globally are not bad, although he achieved them at the beginning of the season. In LaLiga he scored against Granada and doubled against Osasuna and Cádiz. In the Champions League he scored two against Salzburg and one against Bayern.
Precisely the last goal of the Portuguese was on December 1 against the German team. Long time without marking, although the most worrying thing is not only that. João Félix has lost the spark he had at the beginning of the exercise, where he was decisive with his appearances in matches. His ankle problems have also prevented him from performing at his best. and these days in which Atlético have not had games will be very good for them.
In the last league games, Alavés and Sevilla, Simeone put Correa in the starting eleven with Luis Suárez. The Argentine is always a player who contributes, either being a starter or entering from the bench. João Félix came in for Correa in both games. The same situation occurred in both games: with just under a third of the game ahead, João Félix appeared on the pitch.
At 21, and with a contract until June 2026, this second rojiblanco season must be João's Felix, one of the most promising footballers not only in Atlético but in world football. Its market value is still very high, 100 million according to Transfermartk, and Siimeone has to turn João Félix's bump into something temporary.
Atlético plays Thursday and Sunday against Eibar and Valencia, in an important week with these two league games, and it will be necessary to see the role that the Portuguese has in the team. If the flight goes up and it is the beginning of the season, Atlético will have many options to continue as leader. If João Félix does not appear, Simeone will continue pulling other players like Correa, who rarely fails. But everyone in the team expects the best João Félix.