Barcelona scout Portuguese sensation João Félix

Barcelona are scouting 19-year old Benfica attacker João Félix

João Félix is setting the Primeira Liga on fire with Benfica this season. Europe’s top clubs have taken notice, including Barcelona. Club scouts are tracking the 19-year old Portuguese attacking midfielder’s progress, and must have been impressed thus far.

Félix first started making waves when he made an impact with Benfica B and their U-19 team, scoring 9 goals and providing 1 assist in 22 appearances in all competitions. He followed it up with 5 goals and 5 assists in 22 appearances the next season.

At the beginning of the current season, former Benfica manager Rui Vitória gave Félix a call-up to the first-team squad, where he has been a revelation all season. In 13 appearances across all competitions, the starlet has scored 5 goals and provided 1 assist.

He has been especially brilliant in the Primeira Liga, scoring every other game. Barça’s interest should be particularly piqued by João Félix’s performance in the 4-2 win against Rio Ave, where he was deployed as a centre-forward and managed to bag a brace.

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Earlier, Félix has been predominantly used as an attacking midfielder or left winger. But caretaker manager Bruno Lage fielded him as a striker and it yielded results. With Munir leaving at the end of the season, the club are in need of a centre-forward who can succeed Luis Suárez.

João Félix has the ability to fill that void in the squad. But Éric Abidal needs to beat off competition from several other clubs in order to sign the youngster, most notably Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Félix’s development in the coming months is of utmost importance. One brilliant showing against an average team is not going to cut it. He needs to play more games in the centre-forward position before he can be considered as a replacement for Munir.

Also, he needs to control his aggressive nature. In his short career, Félix has picked up 10 yellow cards already, which is an unusually high amount for an attacking midfielder. But when it comes to international experience, he should get the benefit of the doubt.

While the 19-year old Portuguese starlet is yet to make his debut for the national team, he has scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists in 14 appearances at all youth levels, which is a very good sign. So, João Félix has a lot to prove but he is still a good option.

But signing him will be neither inexpensive nor easy. This season, his agent, Jorge Mendes, negotiated a contract renewal with Benfica till 2023, with a release clause of €65 million.