After defeating Tottenham, Manchester City and other club rival Aston Villa established a transfer “agreement” before an abrupt turnabout occurred.

Latest Aston Villa news as it emerges Atletico Madrid reached an agreement with Villa for the transfer of Joao Felix early this summer

Aston Villa had “an agreement” to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid this July, it has been claimed.

Villa were said to be the only English club that “wanted” Felix at the time, with an agreement struck between the two clubs over a potential transfer early on in the summer window. That soon collapsed through no fault of the clubs involved.

According to former Atletico Madrid star Paulo Futre, who is close to Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes, the player “said no” to joining Villa after a deal had already been reached for his transfer. The former Chelsea loanee went on to get his wish, signing for his dream club Barcelona instead.

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“When João said he dreamed of playing for Barça I began to live a nightmare that lasts to this day,” Futre told El Larguero. “I called him [Mendes] and told him that the statements that João had made were his doing and he said no.

“We argued on the phone and he told me that he had spoken to Manchester United. I verified what he told me because I have friends and it was true. Later he had spoken with Manchester City, I also checked and they didn’t want João either.

“What happened between João and Cholo [Diego Simeone] happens every day in football. It’s something normal. What is not normal is that phenomenal coaches knew that João was a genius (…) he entered their game system, but nobody wanted him.

“Neither Arteta, nor Guardiola, nor Klopp, any club… My question is why? The only team that has wanted him has been Aston Villa. João said no when there was an agreement between Atleti and Aston Villa at the beginning of July.”