Paulo Futre has claimed that none of the top managers in England including Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wanted to sign Joao Felix in the summer.

The Portuguese forward fell out with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone. It was clear that he had no future at the Metropolitano, and his agent, Jorge Mendes, offered him around in the Premier League. Sadly for Felix, nobody wanted him.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did not want to sign Joao Felix

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move to sign Joao Felix at the start of this year.

The Gunners were on the market for a versatile forward after missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk, and numerous reports claimed Felix was on Mikel Arteta‘s radar.

However, the Portugal international joined Chelsea on loan instead, and he didn’t have the greatest of times there. He returned to Atletico Madrid, but his comments on dreaming of signing for Barcelona did not go down well with Simeone.

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Felix was immediately put on the market, and the £113 million striker’s super-agent, Jorge Mendes, decided to offer him to Premier League clubs.

Speaking about the above, Portuguese icon Paulo Futre claimed that no big club in England including Arsenal wanted to sign Felix.

He told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero: “When João said he dreamed of playing for Barça I began to live a nightmare that lasts to this day. 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.”

Right decision

Arsenal could’ve done with a new striker in the summer.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are both excellent players, but neither is going to guarantee over 20 goals a season to Arteta and Arsenal.

Joao Felix falls into a similar category, doesn’t he? He’s just not capable of scoring more goals than someone like Jesus, and that meant we had no real need for him.

Arsenal fans are crying out for a new striker now, but even if we gave Arteta a time machine, we’re sure he wouldn’t go back and sign Felix.