Pochettino makes brutal decision on Chelsea star, as he doesn’t want to keep recent addition
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly informed Atletico Madrid he doesn’t want to keep loanee Joao Felix for next season.
Pochettino was officially announced as the next Blues manager recently. In the weeks leading up to that decision, everything pointed to him becoming the new boss.
After a woeful season in which Chelsea finished 12th, they needed a manager who can turn things around.
They’ll hope the former Tottenham boss is the right man for that job. He’ll have some big decisions to make on the outlook of the Chelsea side going forwards.
Multiple reports have suggested he’ll have to cull some players to conform with Financial FairPlay regulations.
A spend of £500million in the last two windows coupled with a terrible season suggests some big names aren’t pulling their weight and could be in danger of being moved on.
Pochettino will also have ideas of the type of players he wants to add to the side. It’s been suggested throughout the season that loanee Felix could be snapped up permanently.
While the Portuguese has scored just four goals in a Chelsea shirt, those have come from just 16 games, and he’s looked one of the most promising members of a struggling side.
Pochettino does not want Felix at Chelsea
However, reports that he could join on a permanent deal surfaced before Pochettino took charge.
And with the Argentine soon to get going in his new role, he’s made the massive call that he doesn’t want Felix.
Indeed, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has been informed Pochettino “does not count with Joao Felix for Chelsea”.
Cerezo is also quoted as saying Felix “will return” to the Madrid outfit, and they have got “nothing planned” for him yet.
Chelsea snub opens door for Prem rivals
Cerezo revealed recently Felix’s future would depend on what he decided for himself. It remains to be seen whether or not that remains the same now that Chelsea are out of the picture.
If so, it could open up to a move to one of the Blues’ Premier League rivals.
Indeed, a recent report stated Felix ‘wants to continue in England’. Given that won’t be at Chelsea, Manchester United could come into the frame.
Their no 1 striker target is Harry Kane, but Tottenham are adamant they won’t sell him to a Premier League side. As such, United could come back in for Felix – having targeted him previously – with the forward apparently considering a move there.
Another option is Newcastle United, another side who secured Champions League football for next season, and that have been credited with interest in the Atletico man.
