João Félix denies the label “traitor” and speaks of Benfica: “I do not regret”

João Félix granted an extensive interview to this Sunday edition of the Spanish newspaper As, in which he addressed several topics, starting from the outset with the departure of Benfica towards the Atlético de Madrid, in the summer of 2019, for a sum of over 120 million euros, when he was only 18 years old.

“Well, I don’t regret it, obviously not. I had some very beautiful, very important moments at Athleti. Of course, I would have liked things to have gone better, but that's what football is, it's growth as a football player. It served me to grow, learn, but no, of course, I do not regret having left so soon ", started by saying.

“ We were champions, one of the years, with a very good season. It's football. Sometimes things come out, but sometimes they don't. Like I always said, I never stopped trying to do what's best for me and the team. I tried to help when I could, and if things didn’t come out, then they didn’t, but of course I would have liked to have laughed higher moments,” he added.

“He would have been the biggest traitor to football”

João Félix then became batteries for the passage through Barcelona in 2023/24: “We did not win anything, but simply playing in Barcelona has made me very happy. Obviously, going by loan is not the same as definitely. Being a club player, everything is different. In a year, anything can happen, be very well or very bad, high or low, but I'm very happy to have worn Barça's sweater, which was a dream of my child, my father and my brother. It was a pride”.

Asked as to the fact that he lacks only to represent Real Madrid (team, now, guided by compatriot José Mourinho) to fulfill the ‘triumvirato’ in the largest clubs of Spanish football, the Portuguese international was permanent: “He would have been the biggest traitor in football. No, no, no. I really enjoyed being in Barcelona. Well, yes, I missed Real Madrid, but I am proud to have played in Barcelona.”.

“ Mourinho is Portuguese, but I don't know him, never matched him. Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atlético de Madrid are teams that people like to see, but of course I see more Barcelona ", completed.

The promise to Cristiano Ronaldo

In conclusion, the advance talked about playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, by Portugal and Al Nassr, and did not hide that he would like to be responsible for the 1,000th goal of the countryman's career: “I’ve thought about it. When you miss one, every time I have the ball, I'll look at it, see if I can give it the pass. This goal will stay in the history of football, and being there would be a spectacular moment”.

“It’s something that few people in football can say that they even did [play with CR7]. It was me, here, in the selection, and now Al Nassr. It's a pride, that's the truth. We grew up seeing Cristiano as our idol, being a reference, and now I can share moments with him ", reflected.

“Inclusive, last year’s championship was very special. To be able to help Christian achieve that title he's been looking for since he arrived... We must enjoy it to the fullest, because we already know that it will not stay forever, but, while it is there, we will be there”, he concluded.