Chelsea flop Joao Felix has Atletico Madrid plaque vandalised for Barcelona claim

Angered Atletico Madrid fans vandalised the plaque of former Chelsea striker Joao Felix in Spain after the star expressed admiration for bitter rivals Barcelona.

The 23-year-old showed brief flashes of brilliance while on loan at Stamford Bridge for the second half of last season but failed to make a major impact on the side as the Blues endured a dismally disappointing campaign.

Felix scored four times for Chelsea but his time in London was marred by a red card picked up in his very first Premier League appearance against Fulham. The Portuguese star returned to Atletico Madrid this summer but has been heavily linked with a move across the country to Catalan giants Barcelona.

Out of favour in Madrid, Felix hasn't hidden his desire to leave for the club's rivals either. In an interview, he said: “Barcelona has always been my first choice and I would love to join them. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”

Unsurprisingly, that didn't sit well with Atletico Madrid supporters who then went out of their way to visit the player's plaque and deface it with a large X and Spanish insults.

It's not the first time such attacks have happened to player momentos with fellow former Chelsea man Thibaut Courtois subject to the same treatment when joining Real Madrid from Atletico.

This week, Felix was also involved in a training 'bust-up' with his unhappiness at Atletico Madrid clear to see for colleagues. The forward angrily threw a bib at Thomas Lemar as he cut a frustrated figure during a broadcasted training session.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also commented on the Felix to Barcelona transfer rumour, labelling it 'very clear'. Explaining on YouTube, he said: "Now it’s really important to mention that Joao Felix, in a direct conversation I just had a few minutes ago, told me: ‘I want to go to Barcelona’.

"Joao Felix told me this very clear statement, he added that Barcelona is the biggest dream of his life since he was a kid and it’s his first choice on the market.

"These are the words from Joao Felix, he added at the end of the conversation that if this happens it would be a dream come true.

"We know it’s never easy to negotiate with Atletico Madrid, we know how the financial situation at Barcelona makes things complicated, so we’re not saying this deal will be easy, but Joao Felix’s position is very clear, the statement from the player is that he wants to go to Barcelona.

"A very clear message from Joao Felix and a very clear intention to join Barcelona."