'I'm not the bad guy!' - Joao Felix sends message to Atletico Madrid fans

Joao Felix has insisted he is «not the bad guy» in his ongoing dispute with parent club Atletico Madrid after scoring against them with Barcelona.

The Portugal forward joined Barca on a straight loan on deadline day of the summer 2023 transfer window. He spent much of the window trying to force a move to the Spanish champions, citing it as a boyhood dream.

La Liga rules state loan players are allowed to play against their parent sides. Felix scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Atletico back in December and followed that up with the opener in a 3-0 victory for Barcelona at the Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday.

Atletico fans dirtied Felix's plaque outside the stadium prior to the game before jeering and whistling him throughout his 77 minutes on the pitch.

Speaking to post-match, Felix claimed fans do not know the full story regarding his frosty relationship with Atletico.

«The fans here watching the game don't know what happens internally,» Felix said. «My [Atletico] teammates do know and, as you can see, I get on well with all of them.

»I stopped to talk with Samuel Lino and [Thomas] Lemar, while everyone came to hug me, talk to me and ask me how my family are. I have nothing against them and they have nothing against me.

«At the end of the day, I am not the bad guy here, but I understand the supporters here perfectly because they don't know everything.»

Felix's loan deal does not include an option to buy and unless an agreement is reached before the summer, he will have to return to Atletico for pre-season ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Reports from Spain suggest Barcelona will try to sign him on another loan before purchasing him on a cut-price deal.

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