Barcelona’s Joao Felix hits back at Atletico Madrid fans after shirt burning

Barcelona forward Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico Madrid, has told the press that the Atletico fans do not know what they are talking about when it comes to his situation at the Metropolitano. As he was in the first clash between the two, Felix was crucial, scoring the opener.

Felix is widely regarded as persona non grata at the Metropolitano, and on his plaque outside the stadium, given to every player that reaches 100 games with the club, his shirt was burned, spat on and covered in excrement.

“As I said before, the fans in the stands do not know the things that happened here during the time I’ve been here. What they say from the outside is that I get along poorly with my former teammates, and that’s not true, as you could see I was just now talking with Samuel [Lino] and Lemar, and everyone who passed by hugged me, came to talk to me and asked how I was, my family, and everything else, so you can see that I have nothing against them and they have nothing against me.”

“The fans don’t know what happened here inside, I perfectly understand their reactions, but I shouldn’t be seen as the bad guy in this situation.”

Felix was also asked by Gustavo Hoffman of ESPN whether he was as close with the Brazilians at Barcelona, namely Raphinha and Vitor Roque, as he was the Portuguese-speakers at Atletico.

“Yeah I like the Brazilians, I get on well with them, I like their way of being and their way of approaching life.”

Felix returned to the starting line-up for Xavi Hernandez and Barcelona on Sunday, having been left on the bench against Napoli in midweek. Since the beginning of 2024, Felix has spent more time on the bench or injured than in the line-up. Where he will be next season remains up in the air, with neither side keen to budge on their stance over his future.