Barcelona close to definitive decision on future of João Félix

A fresh insight into the plans of the powers that be at Barcelona for on-loan frontman João Félix has been provided this afternoon.

The info comes courtesy of Diario AS, who point towards the Portuguese’s future looking increasingly likely to lie away from Catalunya.

Félix, of course, has struggled of late, failing to rediscover the kind of consistent form which saw him labelled a potential Barcelona superstar in the making over the early months of the campaign.

Instead, the 24-year-old has been singled out for widespread criticism, not only for his efforts on the ball, but his attitude when out of possession, too.

Such woes have culminated in Félix being dropped to the bench by head coach Xavi Hernández, who is evidently becoming increasingly disillusioned with the form of a player widely recognised as boasting world-class abilities.

If the latest word stemming from the media on Thursday is anything to go by, though, then Xavi may not need to deal with the attacker for too much longer, anyway.

This comes amid claims on the part of the aforementioned AS that Félix’s future has ‘begun to move away from Barca’.

The ‘favour’, which saw the former Benfica sensation brought to Catalunya to maintain good relations with agent Jorge Mendes, is now considered by the Blaugrana as ‘done’.

With sporting director Deco, a fellow countryman of Félix, having also been left disappointed by his performances after pushing for the signing of the Atlético man during the summer, a permanent Barca switch is in turn viewed as all but dead in the water.

Conor Laird | GSFN