Joao Felix set to miss start of LaLiga season after undergoing surgery on his ankle

Joao Felix is set to miss the start of the LaLiga season after undergoing surgery on his right ankle. 

The operation was carried out by Professor Niek van Dijk in Porto on Friday afternoon and took place under the close supervision of Atletico Madrid‘s medical staff. 

Felix is expected to be out for at least two months – ruling him out of the club’s preseason and the opening games of their 2021-2022 LaLiga campaign.   

It is believed Felix went under the knife to alleviate pain he had been experiencing for the last six months.

Both he and Atletico Madrid medical staff felt now was the best time to fix the lingering issue as it would minimise the number of games he missed during the season.   

According to reports, Felix will be given three weeks off to recover before being brought back to the training ground to begin his rehab. 

The news of Felix’s injury comes just days after Roy Keane gave a withering assessment of the 21-year-old at Euro 2020, calling him an ‘imposter’ after his uninspiring cameo in Portugal’s tournament exit at the hands of Belgium.

Keane immediately pointed the finger of blame at Felix after he scuffed a late shot wide having been teed up on the edge of the box by Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The former Manchester United hard-man said on ITV: ‘I get really annoyed when they’re quality players.

‘There’s no excuse to be leaning back and just missing the target, just test the goalkeeper because these are top players there’s no getting around it.

‘Felix when he came on, that guy is an imposter. He comes on and the country needs you, just hit the target, he’s what, £100million?

‘If I was Ronaldo you’d certainly be going for him in the dressing room.’