Atletico Madrid reportedly turned down every approach that they received for forward Joao Felix over the summer and insist that he is 'untouchable'.
The 22-year-old allegedly attracted interest from Manchester United late in the summer window, with one report claiming that they had seen a €130m (£110m) bid rejected by the Spanish side.
Felix joined Los Colchoneros from Benfica for a club-record £114m in the summer of 2019, and has since recorded 29 goals and 18 assists in 115 appearances across all tournaments.
The Portugal international is yet to reach the heights expected following his big-money move, although his development was hinders last term due to injury and he was reduced to only 13 league starts in 2021-22.
Nevertheless, Atletico still regard Felix as an important first-team player and the club's hierarchy considered him '100% untouchable' over the summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
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Felix has since made a bright start to the new campaign, providing three assists in Atletico's opening four La Liga matches, and head coach Diego Simeone has been impressed with the forward's early-season form.
"Joao is in the best moment of the years we have been together, more mature, more confident, stronger and more involved with the team. He has all the conditions, the talent, the ability... he just has to exploit it on the field," Simeone told reporters on Tuesday.
The Argentine added: "Last year we had a good Champions League, we were close to being among the best but we competed very well.
"This is just beginning, the Champions League starts tomorrow, we have to demonstrate with facts everything that we are excited about and what we imagine. Hopefully with the team's work we can have a good Champions League."
Felix spoke out about his future towards the end of the summer transfer window, and insisted that he is focused on justifying his price tag as well as improving at the Wanda Metropolitano.
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Speaking to AS, Felix said: "I'm happy, I'm working to help the team, give joy to the club and all the people of Atleti. The other years I always tried to be better. If this is my year, I don't know. It depends, we don't know about the future.
"But what I can assure you is that I am doing my best to be at the best level so that I can help the team and the club.
"I arrived here young, I'm still young but I've already grown a lot and I'm sure to grow more. And I'm fine. I'm happy. I have a calm head and when so, things go naturally and let's hope things are good.
"With [Antoine] Griezmann, with Alvaro [Morata], with [Matheus] Cunha, with Angel [Correa]. We all get along well and on the field, the team is doing great."
Felix will be in contention to start for Atletico when they welcome Portuguese giants Porto to the Spanish capital for their opening Group B encounter in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Oliver Thomas
