Jan Oblak has jumped to the defense of Atletico Madrid’s record signing Joao Felix by insisting he will come good in time.
Felix’s breakthrough progress last season with Benfica made him the most wanted teenager in all of Europe, with clubs such as Juventus and Real Madrid hot on his tail.
To the surprise of many, however, Atletico Madrid won the race instead. The Colchoneros paid a club-record €126m to sign Felix, making him the second most expensive teenager of all-time.
But while the Portuguese ace has shown hints of promise, he’s yet to deliver consistently for Diego Simeone’s side.
Although Oblak is adamant that the now 20-year-old will come good at the Wanda Metropolitano and encouraged supporters to remain patient.
“The beginnings here are always difficult. I have suffered enough, I know how it is, how it can feel,” Oblak, who joined Atletico from Benfica himself in 2014 for €16m, told Diario AS on Felix’s progress.
“But with time, if you have quality, patience and a cool mind, your time always comes and then you have to do it well and things go as they should.”
Expectations are naturally higher on Felix’s shoulders compared to the average signing mainly due to the fact Atletico invested so much money on him already.
“I don’t think about it and I think neither does he,” said Oblak. “That’s just a plus, for your confidence it’s good.
“He has shown the quality he has in many games and I am sure he will succeed. He is young and it is not easy, but he will do it.”
Oblak was speaking ahead of Atletico’s Champions League quarter-final clash with RB Leipzig tonight.
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