FC Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez will demand more from Joao Felix when the player returns from the … [+]
FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has been left unimpressed by Joao Felix’s lack of intensity in training and will demand a talk with the club’s new signing when he returns from international duty according to separate reports from El Nacional and SPORT.
Atletico Madrid’s €126 million ($135 million) purchase from Benfica in 2019 completed his “dream” move to Barca on transfer deadline day last week.
Felix will spend the rest of the 2023/2024 season on loan in Catalonia, with known admirer and club president Joan Laporta also satisfying a long-term desire to see the forward don Blaugrana.
Over the summer, however, there were constant reports that Xavi opposed the transfer and didn’t see Felix as a necessary component in his sporting project.
Once the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Ez Abde all left his squad, however, the former midfielder was allegedly more open to the idea of acquiring the 23-year-old.
Last Saturday, during his pre-match press conference on the eve of an away trip to Osasuna, Xavi wanted to stress that Felix’s arrival “fits all of us, not just the president”.
“He is a natural talent, a fast player who can play on the left, inside, he can adapt to the three positions up top. He will help us a lot just like [Joao] Cancelo,” Xavi added.
Following the gritty 2-1 win at El Sadar where the Portuguese duo debuted, Xavi praised the two Joaos.
According to El Nacional, though, he hasn’t been impressed by Felix’s lack of intensity in training and wants him to up the pace.
As reported by SPORT, the boss will hold an “in-depth” talk with his new charge which time hasn’t permitted yet, to not only put forward his plans and demands of the player, but also to explain that he never opposed his presence at the Montjuic Stadium.
Felix is currently away with his national team for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.
After those fixtures have been played, his new club have a jam-packed calendar where Xavi will demand the most from Felix starting with two home matches in four days against Real Betis and Royal Antwerp in La Liga and the Champions League.