Manchester City and Benfica have held formal discussions over the transfer of teenage sensation Joao Felix, according to reports in the English media.
CEO Ferran Soriano is said to have had a meeting with Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira and agent Jorge Mendes in London about signing the player.
The forward is believed to be an option if the Citizens opt to sell Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich this summer.
Felix has a release clause of €120m (£106m), which may need to be triggered for a deal to go ahead. There was a mixed reaction to the story from supporters on Twitter:
Very big gamble for Felix tbh.
— 〰️ (@solehhh__) 30 May 2019
Pls buy him (Joao Felix) he and the rest will take us to the promise land. Thanks Ferran S.
— Kabir (@Kabir91671832) 30 May 2019
honestly, is this bloke worth £100m??
— … (@KunCityFfs) 31 May 2019
Sign him up
— Mathias Hansen (@MathiasHansen6) 31 May 2019
The authorities are out to get City anyways, whatever they do or however they manage their finances. So, if this young guy is the player he is speculated to be, just pay what’s needed to secure his signature, along with the other players wanted/needed & raise the middle digit ?
— Paul D (@PaulDee9) 31 May 2019
— Mohamed Abdulkadir (@mohamedamiin2) 31 May 2019
Better they sign Chukwueze of Villarreal, he’s too expensive.
— Geeza Lebese (@iAmGaucho_) 30 May 2019
fake news
— Dani (@danilinhos11) 30 May 2019
Why would they come to London, doubt this ever happened
— Dominic Murphy (@DominicMurphy97) 31 May 2019
The 19-year-old has had a sensational debut season in Benfica’s first team, having scored 20 goals and contributed 11 assists in 43 games.
The likes of Manchester United and Juventus are also said to be interested in Felix, with bookmakers taking odds on who the teenager will join.
You can get a no deposit free bet if you want to put some money on where you think the Portuguese starlet will end up or if you want to bet on Portugal to win the Nations League where City star Bernardo Silva’s genius has seen his country as 15-8 favourites to win the first edition of the competition.
City’s Bernardo Silva has spoken of a possible final against England might give him the chance to face some of his club mates but he was quick to focus on the obvious threat Portugal face first in Switzerland who seem to have found their scoring boots after 6-0 win in an earlier round of the competition and a 5-2 win over Belgium last time out in the Nations League.
Bookies bet365 have Portugal as 4-6 favourites to beat the high flying Switzerland team to reach the final with the Swiss at an enticing 24-5. Holland are favoured at 19-10 with bet365 to beat England who are at 17-10 to reach the Nations League final.
As the media has reported, this is not just the Cristiano Ronaldo show anymore for Portugal – how much of a factor Joao Felix is in the Nations League remains to be seen but if Portugal head coach Santos throws the uncapped youngster on in the Nations League to make his debut you will surely get great odds on him scoring.
So will it be treble winners and title retaining holders Manchester City under Pep Guardiola or the rebuilding Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who will sign starlet Felix.