Brazil icon Kaka admits Arsenal target is more technically gifted than he was, Arteta must sign him

Brazil legend Kaka has outlined the qualities Joao Felix would bring to Arsenal if Mikel Arteta's side sign the Atletico Madrid forward in January.

Felix, 23, is set to be allowed to leave the Spanish club in the next transfer window after being forced into a bit-part role this season under Diego Simeone.

The Portugal international is the fourth-most expensive player in history, having joined Atletico in a £113m move from Benfica in 2019.

But he has struggled to live up to that huge price tag, managing an underwhelming 33 goals in 129 appearances.

Felix could be sold in January

According to ESPN, Felix is one of four Atletico Madrid players who could be sold in January along with Matheus Cunha, Felipe and Mario Hermoso.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Felix's agent Jorge Mendes has contacted clubs over a possible deal, with Arsenal and Aston Villa both mentioned.

The Gunners are in need of attacking reinforcements as they continue their Premier League title push, with first-choice striker Gabriel Jesus expected to miss up to three months after undergoing knee surgery.

"Aston Villa is an option that Felix's agent Jorge Mendes is believed to be pushing," Ornstein wrote in his transfer column for The Athletic.

"He has a strong relationship with the Villa ownership after doing the deal for Unai Emery to be appointed as manager.

"Some who work in top-level recruitment, however, think Felix may be better suited to Arsenal."

Kaka: Felix has more technical ability than me

Back in 2020, former AC Milan midfielder Kaka told Felix in an interview for Adidas that he possessed more technical ability than he ever did as a player.

Initially, Felix told the 2007 Ballon d'Or winner: "I always used to watch you play because I thought our hairstyle looked alike, as well as our way of playing.

"I used to watch all your games on YouTube."

To which Kaka replied: "I think there's this physical similarity but I think you have even more technical ability than I had."

It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a bid for Felix when the window opens at the start of next month.

Topics: Joao Felix, Kaka, Brazil, Arsenal, Premier League, Atletico Madrid, Transfers, La Liga

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan