Benfica star João Felix is to sign for Atletico Madrid after the Spanish side trigger his release clause.
The La Liga runners-up decided to pay the 120 million euro termination fee in full after Benfica made clear that there was little room for negotiation.
However, El Chiringuito have reported that the Atletico Madrid dressing room have reservations about the signing of Felix - and are not fully convinced by the decision to bring in the Portuguese international, who only made his debut for his country versus Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month.
One issue pointed out by El Chiringuito is that Felix will be earning six million euros a year despite only being 19 years of age, and that fee would see him earn just less than the established players at the club such as Jan Oblak and Diego Costa.
Despite these reported disagreements with the players, Atletico are to proceed with the transfer, and are highly confident that nothing will jeopardise the transfer, which could be made official as soon as tomorrow.
Manager Diego Simeone has been questioned on Felix’s proposed move to Atletico and, speaking to FoxSports, said “Historically, Atletico always buy young players to develop them here, which happened with Oblak, Gimenez, Lucas Hernandez - who came from the youth team - or Griezmann.”
“We want a talented guys who can absorb our ideas.”
Discussing the situation at Atletico Madrid overall, Simeone said “It’s a difficult transition we’re currently going through.”
“If Felix and others come in with different characteristics than we had before, then we will have to play differently.”
Additionally, according to O Jogo, Manchester City were also trying hard to sign the Benfica teenager - and only lost the race with Atletico Madrid to sign Felix in the final stretch.
O Jogo report that Manchester City almost reached an agreement to sign Felix, and suggest they were the club that were leading the charge to sign the youngster, prepared to pay 100 million euros in one lump sum. That was less than his 120m release clause, but City were then willing to allow Felix to stay at Benfica on loan for an additional season.
Atletico, seeing that City were closing in on signing the hot prospect, then acted quickly, and chose to trigger his release clause.
Felix previously had his eyes set on a move to England, but the contract offer from Atletico was sufficient to make him change his mind, and he is to join Atletico Madrid.