Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has rejected accusations of bullying after reports claimed Joao Felix wanted to leave the club.
Felix has made just seven starts for Atletico this season and the Portugal international was an unused substitute in his side’s most recent Champions League game against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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That led to suggestions in Portugal that Simeone was treating Felix harshly, but the Atletico manager told a news conference on Friday that he would select the forward when he started to play better.
“The team is really good and the reality is another thing, the field of play. And in the reality of the field of play the thing is there’s a manager who picks the best players as a result of what he sees,” Simeone said.
“Do you think I’m not playing Joao to lose? No manager does that.
“When he starts to play well again in training, he works, he recovers his goalscoring touch, which we need, he will play.
