The mutation of João Félix

João Félix was once again the most decisive Atlético player, this time in the match against Betis. The Portuguese scored a brace against the Verdiblanco team and his performance was crucial for Atlético to take the three points. João Félix has taken a step forward in recent games and he is already an indisputable player for Simeone. There are several reasons for the Portuguese to show that performance.

The trust. João Félix has been a starter in Atlético’s last four games: Osasuna, Manchester United, Celta and Betis. The striker needed to have minutes regularly, be important from the start and not just as a shock. Until now, João Félix had been a player that Cholo had used as an offensive trigger for the team. He succeeded in important games at the end of last year: Real Madrid, Sevilla… In those games he gave the team another air, but it wasn’t enough. Now he has already left the start and has come out very plugged in.

The goal. João Félix needs to score goals to feel important and now he is scoring them. He has scored seven goals this season (five in LaLiga, one in the Champions League and one in the Cup). They are not many for a player of his quality, but he has had a good run in recent games. He scored against Osasuna, Manchester and the brace against Betis. Against Osasuna he scored in the 3rd minute, against Manchester in the 7th minute and the first of his two goals against the Verdiblanco team came just after the minute of play. In addition to the goals, he has given five assists (three in LaLiga, one in the Champions League and another in the Spanish Super Cup).

Support. From the club they always expressed their confidence in João Félix. In the moments when he was on the tightrope, from the Wanda Metropolitano entity they always said that he is an important player in the team, a footballer of the present and also of the future. He has a contract until 2026 and his market value is 60 million. His environment dropped on occasion that he could seek his future away from Atlético in the event that he did not have the participation that he wanted. In the rojiblanco team they know that he is a player who still has to give his best.

Sacrifice. Simeone ended up very happy with João Félix at the end of the game against Osasuna. That match was key for the resurgence of the rojiblanco team. Cholo congratulated the Brazilian for his game in attack, but, above all, for his good work in defense. One of Simeone’s great battle horses with the Portuguese has been that he is capable of sacrificing himself for the good of the team, let him be able to grit his teeth and defend. The example is Griezmann. The Frenchman has a quality beyond any doubt, as he showed in the play of the third goal against Betis, but he also knows how to run and fight like the best.

Leadership. Behind is João Félix with a serious face. Now he looks happy, happy, trusting in his possibilities…. And loved and respected by a hobby that is beginning to feel that he is a first-rate player. It has not been easy. Atlético’s fans give everything but he also asks for maximum dedication. And in some phases he understood that João Félix did not give it his all. Now you see a Portuguese with stripes. At 22 years old, he is pulling the wagon in one of the most important moments of the campaign.