Many expected Joao Felix would return to Barcelona next season, sooner or later, with both the club and the player expressing a desire to do so. Felix does not want to go to Saudi Arabia, while Atletico Madrid is eager to transfer him on, but previous club Benfica has surfaced as surprise bidders.

According to Correio de Manha, via Sport, Benfica has begun talks with Atletico about signing the 24-year-old attacker. They want to buy 50% of his rights and are hopeful that the sale of Antonio Silva, who is expected to leave for roughly €50 million, will fund the deal.

Their plan is to sign Felix for €15 million, while Atletico is requesting €25 million, with the understanding that they will receive 50% of any future fees. With Felix earning an estimated €8 million every season, the Portuguese site claims that making the deal will require a marvel of financial engineering.

Felix is eager to return to Barcelona on loan, but has not ruled out a move despite Atletico’s reluctance to loan him back to the Blaugrana on the terms that the Catalan club prefers. His agent, Jorge Mendes, informed Barcelona Sporting Director Deco about Benfica’s interest at a meeting in Porto, and he is expected to be part of Hansi Flick’s plans for next season, but the message has always been that it would be on the correct conditions.

Atletico and Benfica are eager to work out a trade, but it remains to be seen whether Barcelona will reply or Felix will accept a return. While the amount is far from what they would like for Felix, who costs €124 million, it is by far the greatest proposition they have had in a long time.