Joao Felix's emphatic header made Ralf Rangnick's gameplan redundant after just six minutes and 10 seconds on the clock when Manchester United played Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in February.
It was another nightmare start to a game in a disastrous season. Felix found the space in between Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, with the latter slow to react, and his header crashed into the goal after kissing the post, leaving David de Gea stunned and wondering what had just happened. It was a bullet header from the 5ft 9in Felix, who had given Atletico Madrid the perfect start.
Although the standard of the finish was outstanding, that goal was only Felix's fourth of the season. Felix scored another six goals in the latter stages of the campaign, but his final haul of 10 scored across all competitions was nothing special.
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Atletico signed Felix for £113million from Benfica in 2019 and it felt like they had grossly overpaid for the player at the time. Felix is the fourth most expensive transfer on record and now aged 23, it's fair to say he's failed to vindicate that level of investment.
Felix is yet to hit double digits for La Liga goals in a season and he's not delivered on the potential he showed playing for Benfica in Portugal, where he demanded attention from the world with highlight reels of his superb feet and goals going viral.
The exciting teenager who was electric at Benfica has become an enigma at Atletico. Felix has contributed four goals and three assists this season and Diego Simeone has started him in just five matches in La Liga, which has not helped the talk of a widening rift between manager and player. Simeone has not got the best out of Felix and the player's days at the club seem numbered.
Simeone has got the best from Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa, and Antoine Griezmann at Atletico, but he's been unable to tap into the psyche of Felix, who could need a change of scenery, a new club and philosophy, to breathe life into his career.
There were eyebrows raised when a forward like Felix, who is creative and fluid with his movement, signed for Atletico, who are well-structured and defensive-minded, and it's obvious that he hasn't aligned with Simeone's vision as was hoped.
Felix has the qualities to succeed in a team which places an emphasis on possession-based football and that's perhaps why he's been linked with a move to Old Trafford again, with Erik ten Hag in desperate need of attacking reinforcements.
It's understood United were not preparing to spend in the January transfer window, but Cristiano Ronaldo's departure has forced the board to rethink their strategy. Anthony Martial is the only recognised striker at the club after Ronaldo's exit and he's already been unavailable for 15 games from a possible 21 fixtures with three different injuries, to his back, Achilles and hamstring.
Marcus Rashford has predominately played down the middle and he's been in excellent form, but he's best on the left and it would be negligence for the club not to sign a striker in January, despite the market for centre-forwards looking difficult to manoeuvre.
There is a clear lack of goalscorers who would be available in January. Atletico are said to be open to offers for Felix, but he's certainly not a prolific scorer or a traditional centre-forward, as he likes to drift across the attack, more like a false nine would.
Although there are concerns about whether he's got the physicality to succeed in the Premier League and doubts about whether he's clinical enough, Felix would still represent a positive addition to a United squad that needs more attacking quality.
Felix would be a welcome signing in January, but it would be foolish to sign the player on a permanent deal. Atletico will be keen to recoup what they can of their £113m investment and United would be stupid to enter negotiations for a permanent transfer.
A loan move, even with a sizeable loan fee, would make sense considering the circumstances, as it would give Ten Hag another forward, who can play down the middle, a player who has vast potential in the right team for the rest of the season, without the long-term risk of permanently signing a player who isn't certain to adapt to the Premier League.
The signing of Felix could be a potential quick fix to Ten Hag's lack of attacking options and the Dutchman could then reevaluate his squad at the end of the campaign when the summer transfer window arrives, which is easier to operate in.
United have made a catalogue of transfer mistakes over the last decade and signing Felix on a permanent deal could be another.
It seems there would be no harm in giving the player a six-month loan stint in Manchester, though.
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