Joao Felix could ‘enchant’ Pep Guardiola and solve Man City’s striker crisis as Kaka-like forward knocks rivals Man United out of the Champions League

Joao Felix has been singled-out as an ideal fit for Manchester City as he helped Atletico Madrid knock rivals Manchester United out of the Champions League.

Felix scored a superb header in the first leg of the last 16 tie before setting up the eventual winner of the match-up with a clever piece of play at Old Trafford.

The Portugal international moved to Madrid in 2019 at the age of 19 for a whopping £113million after barely a season of first team football with Benfica.

Now 22, Felix has a 2020/21 LaLiga winners medal to go with his gargantuan price tag, but it’s only now his huge potential is looking like it may finally be unlocked.

talkSPORT’s European football expert Andy Brassell spoke about the striker ahead of Atleti’s second leg win over United, and in comparing him to a Brazilian football legend, explained why Felix could be the perfect fit for Man City.

“Joao Felix is now in his third season at Atletico Madrid and as people saw in the first leg against Manchester United the potential is ready to be realised,” Brassell said.

“I think people look at him and imagine another Kaka, especially when they see the ball at his feet and they see how he can dribble past players. 

“But as that goal against Manchester United underlined he can do all the number nine stuff as well, he can win headers in the penalty area, he can score the beautiful goals and the ugly ones as well.

Felix caused a huge stir back in February 2021 when he appeared to direct a shushing gesture towards Simeone following a goal against Villarreal.

This season the pair have clashed in the media as their title defence slipped away with Felix saying ‘I think we all know what the problem is’ which prompted a riposte from Simeone.

Brassell feels that while the duo remain stylistically opposed, links to other clubs will always appear, with Man City in need of a striker and deemed a good fit.

“While Simeone is there and while Atletico still have this identity crisis there will always be speculation linking Joao Felix with a move away,” he explained. 

“I guess the obvious fit before any potential transfer dealings this summer is Manchester City, you can imagine he’s the sort of player that would enchant Pep Guardiola and add an edge to them at centre forward that isn’t there already. 

“But I think if Atletico Madrid are ready to go all in on him as a centre forward which they should have done from the very beginning this is the point where he can really start to take off and he can really start to rebuild Atletico.”