Felix gave up “significant” salary to join FC Barcelona

It’s been a storybook start for Joao Felix at Barcelona, a team he described as his “dream’ club. After scoring two and assisting Robert Lewandowski in Tuesday’s win against Royal Antwerp, the good feeling is flowing.

Although it was originally rumoured, Felix has now confirmed that he gave up a significant part of his salary to make the move to Barcelona, speaking this week he said:

"“It’s true I gave up a significant part of my salary, but I needed a change. I needed to come to a place where I can play my style of football and I have always said I think this is the ideal place. Things are going well – I didn’t expect to start so well – and it was an effort I needed to make to be able to find joy playing football again.”"

That shows an incredible amount of desire and will endear him to not only the fans but Barcelona management. The simple fact is that had he not reduced his salary, Barca would have been unable to secure his loan signature due to the financial situation at the club.

The chances are they’d have had to choose between Felix and Cancelo, and with right-back the more glaring need, it’s likely they would have made the Man City man the priority.

I don’t think anyone expected Felix to start as well as he has, and his relationship and understanding with Robert Lewandowski has perhaps been the most welcome surprise. His dummy at the weekend allowed the Polish striker to run onto a through ball and finish decisively as Barcelona routed Real Betis 5-0.

Could Felix stay at FC Barcelona beyond 2023?

It’s no secret that Felix and Athletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone didn’t see eye-to-eye, the relationship broke down to the extent that Felix was isolated at training.

He’s with Barcelona on loan without a buy option, and a permanent transfer could prove difficult considering the financial pressure on the La Liga champions.

Felix is concentrating on what he can control and will leave the future to the future.

"“Well, for me it depends on how the season ends. Afterwards, Barcelona is the one who has to negotiate with Atleti and that depends after Atleti, if they want to make things easier or not. But those are business things, values, which I don’t get involved in. I do my job on the field, I try to do my best so that they want to sign me in the end and that thing about values, whether I go or not go or for how much, doesn’t interest me.”"