Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone has denied bullying allegations after reports claimed Joao Felix want to leave the club.
Felix has only made seven appearances for Atletico this season and Portugal The international was an unused substitute in his team’s most recent Champions League match against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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That led to suggestions in Portugal that Simeone was being rough with Felix, but the Atletico boss told a press conference on Friday that he would pick the striker when he starts playing. better.
“The team is really good and reality is another thing, the playing field. And in the reality of the playing field, it’s about having a manager who picks the best players based on what he sees,” said Simeone. speak.
“You think I don’t play Joao to lose? No manager does that.
“When he starts playing well again in training, he works, he recovers his scoring ability, which we need, he will play.
“But when I’m here, it’s about performance, that’s why his other teammates are playing.
“Obviously he played well every time.”
Felix did not reach the top as expected after joining from Benfica for 126 million euros in 2019, scoring 30 goals in 121 appearances.
Pictured him making a red-faced gesture after scoring in training for Atletico this week, but Simeone dismissed the idea that there was greater meaning behind it.
“I will say it very clearly the same way I explained it to Joao,” Simeone said. “I want to win with [Angel] Correawith Joao, with [Antoine] Griezmannwith [Matheus] Cunhawith [Alvaro] Morata.
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“The only reality is there. In the year of the Liga [when Atletico won in 2020-21] he had an incredible year until he got injured and Correa ended up playing because he had a great end to the season.
“Inside [2019-20 season] he didn’t play, but he started playing with Osasunahe played well, he responded with goals, gave everything for the team, what he got [at his disposal]and he played until he got injured.
“[This] the season he played well before the season, apart from injury, with good games against Juventus and because of his good performance, he played.
“And now, when his form is down, the other teammates play. Because I think Joao is on par with Correa and the others.
“It’s normal that he did the silent gesture yesterday [when] he played with [Yannick] Carrasco and [Rodrigo] De Paul to see who scored.
“But now that he’s focused on him, you guys are there with the microscope going to give an opinion on whatever is the result of what you guys think.
“Everything I have to say to the players, I tell them in the dressing room, not here.”
Atletico go to Bilbao to face Sport Club on Saturday. Simeone’s team is fourth in the table, six points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid at top.
