Real Madrid have had their €80 million bid for Joao Felix rejected by SL Benfica as they brace themselves for the potential departure of the youngster.
According to AS, Real Madrid have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Joao Felix. It is believed that Los Blancos had tabled a bid of €80 million with €40 million in add-ons for the Portuguese wonderkid. But, their offer has been rejected by SL Benfica, who are holding out for a one-time fee of a staggering €120 million.
This could serve as a real message to the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, all of who are also said to be keen in acquiring the services of Felix this summer.
City, in particular, were believed to have held talks with the Benfica president regarding Felix’s potential switch to Etihad. But, with the Portuguese giants seemingly intent on receiving the fee as mentioned above for the 19-year-old, it won’t be surprising to see the Premier League stave off interest in the player.
Same can be said for their cross-town rivals Manchester United, who were reportedly willing to meet Felix’s €120 million release clause, earlier this summer. But, with the Red Devils set to undergo a massive squad overhaul, taking such a huge gamble could financially cripple them in their bid to sign a new right-back, centre-back and a midfielder this summer.
Recent reports suggested United had submitted a €120 million bid for Joao Felix. And if that is the case, the Red Devils might become frontrunners to land the Benfica wonderkid.
As for Real Madrid, they, too, will be keen to undergo a squad overall after a turbulent campaign. The former European champions are already preparing the departure of Gareth Bale this summer while Eden Hazard is nearing his move to Santiago Bernabeu. And with star playmaker Isco struggling to impress, Zinedine Zidane will be keen to sign a new playmaker this summer.
That’s where Felix could come into the fray. The 19-year-old has enjoyed an incredible professional debut campaign at Benfica this past season, having been involved in 31 goals in 43 matches across all competitions. His service in the final third played a critical role in Benfica’s 37th league triumph during the 2018/19 campaign.
That being said, Felix could struggle at the Bernabeu, given his lack of experience in the highest level of football. It could be difficult for him to cope with the soaring expectations that are usually associated with any big-money signing for Real Madrid, especially at such a young age.
Hence, it would perhaps be wiser for the Spanish giants to shift their interest to a more proven individual, who can not only add more quality into the attack but can also cope with the pressure of having to perform at the Bernabeu. Leroy Sane, for one, could be an appealing target for Los Blancos, although the German international has been identified as a top target for Bayern Munich this summer.
