Joao Félix defends his Atlético move and leaves the door open for a LaLiga return

Joao Félix has spoken openly about his past at Atlético de Madrid without avoiding any difficult questions. The Portuguese forward, who remains the most expensive signing in the club's history, says he has no regrets about that chapter and admits the idea of returning to LaLiga appeals to him. His comments come at a time when the player is regaining prominence away from Europe, specifically at Saudi side Al-Nassr, where he shares a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Joao Félix says he does not regret joining Atlético de Madrid and highlights how much he matured during those years.
• The Portuguese forward values the league title won with Atlético and defends his professionalism in the face of criticism.
• He admits he had ups and downs and would have liked to enjoy more positive moments at the Metropolitano.
• He remembers his loan at Barcelona with special affection, describing the club as a childhood dream for him and his family.
• He keeps the door open to a LaLiga return, although he completely rules out ever playing for Real Madrid.

Joao Félix opens up about his time at Atlético de Madrid

The relationship between Joao Félix and Atlético de Madrid fans was damaged after his departure from the club. His differences with Diego Simeone and the feeling that he never reached his full potential turned his transfer into one of the biggest debates in Spanish football. Now, with the distance that time and the Saudi desert provide, the Portuguese attacker looks calm when reviewing those years.

The Portugal international insists that his arrival in Madrid at such a young age helped him grow as a player and as a person. He does not hide the fact that there were difficult moments, but he prefers to focus on what he learned and on the experience of competing at the highest level. His message reflects a maturity that contrasts with the image of a distant player that many saw during his time in the Spanish capital.

I don't regret my time at Atlético. I lived very beautiful and important moments there. It helped me mature. I don't regret at all arriving in Madrid at such a young age.

The league title, Joao Félix's greatest memory as an Atlético player

Despite the criticism he received during his time as an Atlético player, Joao Félix values an achievement no fan of the club will ever forget: winning the league championship. That season in which Simeone's team were crowned champions produced important moments for the Portuguese, who defends his commitment and effort in every match he played.

The forward understands that football is full of ups and downs and that things do not always go the way you want. He acknowledges that he would have liked to enjoy more brilliant moments in the Atlético shirt, but stresses that he never stopped trying. His message aims to heal wounds with a fan base that never fully saw him as a leader of the project.

Joao Félix at Barcelona, a chapter he remembers with affection

After leaving Atlético, Joao Félix spent a loan spell at Barcelona that allowed him to fulfil a family dream. The Portuguese player does not hide the happiness he felt when wearing the Blaugrana shirt, a club he still follows closely and one that always held a special place in his heart and that of his family.

That spell at the Camp Nou brought back positive feelings and allowed him to rediscover his best form in certain stretches of the season. The Barcelona fans welcomed him with excitement, and the attacker responded with goals and assists that fuelled hopes of a permanent stay, although his path ultimately led him to Saudi Arabia.

Just playing for Barcelona made me very happy. I am very happy to have worn the Barça shirt, which was a childhood dream for me, my father and my brother.

Joao Félix and a future that could lead back to LaLiga

At 25, Joao Félix does not consider his adventure in European football to be over. The Portuguese admires LaLiga from a distance and admits he would like to compete in it again in the future. The intensity of the competition and the level of its teams still attract him, and he does not rule out a second opportunity at one of the league's big clubs.

However, the Portuguese is very clear that one destination is completely out of the question. Asked about a hypothetical move to Real Madrid, Joao Félix responds firmly: he cannot imagine himself in the white shirt. His past with Atlético and Barcelona would make such a move impossible, and the player himself sees it as a red line he will not cross.

Joao Félix's revival at Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo

Away from the European spotlight, Joao Félix has found Al-Nassr to be a suitable stage to reconnect with his football. The Saudi league is allowing him to get minutes, take on responsibility and be decisive in attack again. The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, an absolute reference in Portuguese football, has made his adaptation easier and given him calm leadership inside the dressing room.

The change of scenery has done the attacker good. He has recovered his smile and his confidence on the pitch, and his performances in Saudi Arabia show that his talent remains intact and that there are still chapters to be written in his career. The question hanging over his future is whether this revival will continue back in LaLiga or become established in Saudi football.

Frequently asked questions about Joao Félix's future