Does The Benfica Statement Give City Hope Over Felix?

Earlier today, it was reported that Manchester City target Joao Felix was on the verge of a 120m Euro move to Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Since then however, Felix’s club Benfica have released a statement saying that no deal has been struck as yet with the Spanish outfit.

Felix is a hotly sought player, and City’s rival United are also rumoured to be interested in signing the youngster. The blues were rumoured to be willing to pay the release fee and match the wages on offer from Atletico. In addition, it has also been rumoured that City are prepared to allow Felix to make an immediate return to Benfica on loan for the following season, a move that the Portuguese side consider favourable.

Since then, a Spanish newspaper claimed a deal with Atletico was imminent, which has prompted Benfica to make an unusual statement. “In view of the set of news published in these last hours, Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Futebol, SAD clarifies that it is false that any negotiation process is currently under way regarding a possible transfer of player Joao Felix. The conditions for its negotiation are public and known, taking into account the termination clause defined in the amount of 120 million euros.

“More serious, and that deserves our most vehement repudiation and denial, is the false news that refers to negotiations that involve commissions of 30% and which, unfortunately, was echoed in Portugal by the newspaper “A Bola”, with intentions and goals that we do not know at all.

“We repeat: this information is totally false, absurd and has clearly intentional intentions for the reputation and dignity of Sport Lisboa e Benfica.”

Does Benfica’s statement give the bleus hope that a deal can yet be struck, or is this situation destined to play out like last summer’s Jorginho saga?