Barcelona new signing earns praise from national team manager: “Talent is permanent”

Portugal national football team head coach Roberto Martinez praised Barcelona forward Joao Felix after his goal in a recent 9-0 thumping of Luxembourg, saying that the youngster is now in a team where he is enjoying his life.

Felix entered the game in the 60th minute with Portugal already leading 5-0. Although his strike was like a cherry on top, his performance earned accolades from all, serving as the perfect finishing touch to a remarkable display of skill and concentration.

Positioned strategically with his back facing the goal, Felix initiated his move from the left attacking vertex. Although he took an additional touch to set up his strike, he unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot, directing the ball into the top corner of the net.

It was especially noteworthy because he had only recently arrived at Barcelona on loan from Atletico Madrid and had limited playing time prior to this match.

In any way, his national team coach was impressed with how Felix performed on the night as he went on to say,

“Talent is permanent. We need talent and players who can make a difference. Joao Félix has talent and technical quality that is at a high level,” highlighted Martinez as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“Players are people and people have bad moments, good moments, and I think Joao now has a team to enjoy, to be himself.

“But it was important to be with us because he is part of the team and it was good to prepare for October. Today we saw that Joao has an important place in the team,” he added.

To say Felix was at the crossroads during the summer transfer market would be an understatement. He desperately wanted to move to Barcelona, but thanks to the latter’s troubles with finances, the deal had to wait right until the end of the window.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they had to sell Ez Abde and loan out Ansu Fati to Premier League side Brighton in order to accommodate Felix and his national teammate Joao Cancelo, thus putting an end to a long transfer story.