Andrea Berta: “João Félix will be whatever he wants to be.” | OneFootball

Speaking to Tuttosport, Atlético Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta discussed João Félix’s progression under Diego Simeone.

“João Félix had a very quick explosion. In just over six months he went from playing in Benfica’s second team to being the most coveted youngster in the world and that growth and media exposure, typical of great talents, have also brought him setbacks to face that have partly slowed down his development, because knowing how to coexist with fame, success, the great comparisons, the immediate need to impose himself and to give and obtain results is not easy,” Berta explained.

The sporting director went on to describe how he has changed since he arrived at Atlético in 2019.

“Today I can say with certainty that João Félix will be whatever he wants to be. He has extraordinary talent, he has matured, he has the good fortune to have a balanced family behind him that has helped him in his growth. And also the ambition that accompanies him will take him wherever he wants because his talent has no limits. With [Diego] Simeone he has learned to suffer, to work, to be generous on the pitch. In short, he has grown in secondary aspects for talented players, but fundamental in modern football for the achievement of great goals.”