 Joao Felix looked far from impressed after he was separated from Atletico Madrid's first team for the start of his pre-season preparations. Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis Sign up Privacy Policy The 23-year-old was unable to make an impact during his stint on loan at Chelsea last season and is now back at Atletico ahead of the new campaign. However, his future with Diego Simeone's side looks bleak as he was made to train away from the first-team squad during his first session back on Monday. Felix and Renan Lodi, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, were ordered to spend the start of the session with Atletico's academy players, although they later joined the first team for tactical work. After the session, Felix held a tense conversation with Atletico's sporting director, Andrea Berta, and clearly looked frustrated with his current situation. Joao Félix 'paga' su situación con Andrea Berta: el portugués se dirige al director deportivo tras el entrenamiento y protagoniza una tensa conversación ð¹ @casalfoto pic.twitter.com/6r3RJLasXA — MARCA (@marca) July 10, 2023 Last week, Atletico confirmed that Felix had been stripped of his No.7 shirt, which Antoine Griezmann will wear for the upcoming season. The Portugal international had worn the No.7 shirt ever since he joined Atletico in a £113 million (€126m) deal from Benfica in 2019. Felix is now searching for a new club and Benfica are among the clubs who have been linked with a move for the forward. Speaking at Benfica's pre-season training camp at St George's Park on Tuesday, the team's vice-captain, Joao Mario, insisted that Felix would be welcome back at the club. 'I want the best for Joao,' Joao Mario said. 'He is a young man with a lot of talent, a lot of quality, whatever is best for him is what I want. 'For Benfica he would be an excellent player, everyone knows the qualities of Joao Felix. If he wants to come an){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Joao Felix looked far from impressed after he was separated from Atletico Madrid’s first team for the start of his pre-season preparations.
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis
The 23-year-old was unable to make an impact during his stint on loan at Chelsea last season and is now back at Atletico ahead of the new campaign.
However, his future with Diego Simeone’s side looks bleak as he was made to train away from the first-team squad during his first session back on Monday.