Super agent Jorge Mendes wanted Joao Felix to join Manchester City in 2019, leaked audio has revealed.
After a stellar season with Benfica during which he scored 20 goals in 43 games, Felix emerged as one of the most sought after young talents in the world.
Atletico Madrid won the race for his signature and paid a club-record €120 million to bring him to La Liga.
Felix, who took on the No.7 short worn by Antoine Griezmann, has gone on to score 22 times in 94 appearances for Los Rojiblancos.
But the general consensus is that the 22-year-old doesn't quite fit Diego Simeone's style of play.
And it's emerged, via leaked audio messages sent to Benfica youth sporting director Bruno Maruta, that Mendes was hoping his client would link up with Pep Guardiola at City.
"[then-Benfica president Luis Filipe] Vieira insisted that I bring him proposals of €120 million [for Joao Félix] and I already have four," Mendes said, as per Record.
"Now there is a problem because he can only go to one and there is one that gives €120m [Atlético] and another that lets him stay one more year.
"The best thing for Joao Felix would be Guardiola’s Manchester City."
Last month, it was reported by AS that Mendes had told Atletico he wanted Felix to be sold due to his lack of game-time.
Speaking on Cadena Ser, journalist Javier Matallanas claimed that the Valencia game in November, when Felix played just three minutes from the bench, is where things started to go downhill.
"Everything starts after the Mestalla game, since Jorge Mendes contacts the club to request his departure. Atleti has told him that as long as he brings the money, they will let him leave," Matallanas explained.
Felix has been continually linked with a move to Barcelona but the Blaugrana would prefer a loan with an obligation to buy due to their financial troubles and the Portuguese star's hefty wages.
Topics: Jorge Mendes, Joao Felix, Manchester City
Josh Lawless