Atletico Madrid have announced the club record €126million signing of Benfica attacker Joao Felix

Atletico Madrid have announced the club record €126million signing of Benfica attacker Joao Felix.

Manchester City had been interested in exploring a deal for the player depending on the future of Leroy Sane, while the likes of Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid had all also been linked.

But it’s Atleti that have secured his signature, after Atletico CEO Gil Marin met with Benfica chairman Luis Filipe Vieira, during the Champions League final to kick off negotiations.

Manager Diego Simeone also played a key role in convincing Joao Felix to join Atleti, having contacted the 19-year-old directly.

Joao Felix becomes the third most expensive footballer of all time behind Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

He has been likened to Kaka and Antoine Griezmann, who is set to leave Atleti this summer.