FC Barcelona could complete the signing of Joao Felix this week according to AS, with his club Atletico Madrid open to the transfer following explosive comments the Portuguese made to Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday evening.

Felix sent shockwaves through Spanish football when telling the Italian transfer market expert: "I’d love to play for Barca," as part of an excluisve.

"Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca," the 23-year-old added.

"It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me," he then finished.

Felix's comments came as no surprise to those that had read a report from AS at the weekend.

It explained how he pined for a move to Catalonia, which was described as an "impossible dream", and how he longed to don Blaugrana one day.

Felix's current employers Atletico, who paid boyhood club Benfica €126 million ($141.5 million) for his services in 2019, didn't waste time reacting to his remarks to Romano through the Spanish media.

MARCA reported that the club from the capital found the short interview "unprofessional and disrespectful", additionally offering that the player's agent Jorge Mendes "knows perfectly the conditions that must be given so that the Portuguese can leave the club" before stating that it will not add any further comment on the matter.

With several clients on Barca's books such as Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, Mendes is a close associate of the Catalans' president and known Felix-admirer Joan Laporta. At present, it is believed by Mundo Deportivo to be working on a possible deal that would bring Manchester City star Bernardo Silva to Xavi Hernandez's La Liga title-defending squad in 2023/2024.

According to AS, though, the dream of Silva's Portugal national team colleague Felix "seems to be close than ever to being fulfilled" with Atletico having given the green light to a possible loan with an option to buy.

Even amid their economic woes and difficulties navigating Financial Fair Play Limits, Barca have already made the numbers work on a possible deal that would be a huge coup for Xavi's men.

With Felix "very excited" about the possibility of switching allegiances, the operation "may come to fruition throughout this week" according to AS.