Xavi reveals how he unlocked Joao Felix after he struggled at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid
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Joao Felix has been enjoying life under Xavi's tutelage at Barcelona || Image credit: Imago/Barca Universal(X)

Xavi reveals how he unlocked Joao Felix after he struggled at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid

Faruq Ibrahim 02:45 - 20.09.2023

Barcelona's manager Xavi Hernandez answered a question about Joao Felix world class performances since joining Barcelona.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has revealed how he is getting a tune out of Joao Felix after the Portuguese struggled with his previous managers at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

The 24-year-old joined the Blaugrana on loan deadline day after the Rojiblancos put him up for sale due to his fractured relationship with Diego Simeone.

His falling out with the Argentine led to a six-month loan at Chelsea for the second-half of the previous season, but the Blues' new boss, Mauricio Pochettino, was reportedly not on board with making his deal permanent. 

Suitors were not replete for Felix despite Atleti’s public for-sale stance, and it took late in the window and some creative accounting on Barcelona’s part for the players' destination to be sorted. 

What Xavi said

Despite the tumultuous past few months Felix has had, he has settled into life at Barcelona smoothly and fits into Xavi’s system like a glove.

Joao Felix won the man of the match in Barcelona's 5-0 demolition of Royal Antwerp || Image credit: Imago
Joao Felix won the man of the match in Barcelona's 5-0 demolition of Royal Antwerp || Image credit: Imago
Joao Felix joined Barcelona on loan from Atletico Madrid on deadline day in the summer transfer window. | Photo Credit: IMAGO
Joao Felix joined Barcelona on loan from Atletico Madrid on deadline day in the summer transfer window. | Photo Credit: IMAGO

The former Benfica forward has scored three goals in two starts with his new club while also registering an assist. Felix was named man of the match in both games and is currently looking like the player whose talents Atletico Madrid dolled out €120 million for and one that clubs should have been going heads over heels to land this summer.

The Blaugrana manager was asked how he has managed to get him to perform at this level, and he said he told him to keep things simple, not overcomplicate play, and the goals will come for him.

"I told Joao Felix to have fun and to play with simplicity,” Xavi said. “I told him, 'Simplify your game, and you will score a lot of goals.”