Why Joao Felix Refused the No.10 Jersey at Barcelona
Barcelona’s new loan signing Joao Felix has decided to wear the No 14 shirt instead of the iconic No 10 that was vacated by Ansu Fati’s loan move to Brighton.
The Portuguese star, who joined the Catalan club from Atletico Madrid on deadline day, had several reasons for rejecting the opportunity to wear the number that was previously worn by legends such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona.
According to Diario Sport, Felix was not even offered the No 10 by Barcelona, as the club respected Fati’s wish to keep his number for his return next season.
Fati, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, was reportedly unhappy with his loan move and felt he was forced out of the club by the financial crisis.
Felix, who is aware of Fati’s situation, did not want to offend or disrespect his fellow youngster by taking his number.
He also wanted to avoid the extra pressure and attention that comes with wearing the No 10 at Barcelona, especially after a difficult spell at Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.
Felix, who is still only 23 years old, is looking to rebuild his confidence and form at Barcelona, where he hopes to play under his idol Xavi Hernandez.
He thought that taking a less high-profile number would help him focus on his performance and not on the expectations of the fans and the media.
The No 14 shirt that Felix chose has its own history and significance at Barcelona, as it was worn by some of the club’s greats such as Philippe Coutinho, Thierry Henry, Javier Mascherano and Johan Cruyff. Felix said he was honoured to wear the number and hoped to honour its legacy.
