Man City aim to keep old transfer target quiet in Champions League fixture

Joao Felix’s career could have turned out completely differently if his links to Manchester City became a reality back in 2019. Now he’ll be facing them in the Champions League on Tuesday, looking to show Pep Guardiola what he’s missing.

When City’s name were drawn out of the bowl by Mikael Silvestre in Nyon to face the Spanish champions just under a month ago, there was a sense of trepidation amongst the Blues fanbase.

A fear of knowing that their team are the favourites – as they most often are – but also a fear of what they already know about a Diego Simeone side.

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They’re compact, they defend deep and with numbers, but they are also capable of springing from their low block and catching teams on the break with their slick operators and deadly finishers.

One of them players is Felix, who Atletico paid nearly £115million for when he was just 18 years old. His career since then has been a difficult one to call.

On statistics alone, the Portuguese international has contributed to 42 goals in his 106 appearances for Los Colchoneros, currently sat on eight goals in all competitions this season.

Felix has flattered to deceive the supporters who gather inside the Wanda Metropolitano, but there is a growing sense he is starting to come to life in an Atletico shirt – with his goal against Manchester United in the last-16 proof of his ever-growing importance to the side.

There’s a certain irony in the fact Felix could have been the perfect operator in Guardiola's false nine system.

Since the departure of Sergio Agüero – and the club’s failure to sign a recognised striker – the Catalan has been forced to use this new system with multiple