Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has insisted that he has "a good working relationship" with Joao Felix amid the uncertainty surrounding the attacker's future.
The 23-year-old is currently being heavily linked with a move away from Wanda Metropolitano, with the Red and Whites said to be open to letting him depart on loan.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are among the clubs to be linked with Felix, who has allegedly seen his relationship with Simeone break down.
However, the Atletico head coach insisted that is not the case while branding the forward "important to the team".
"We have a good working relationship. Since I have been at the club I have never left, beyond some differences that exist between people, and we can't agree on everything, and I have looked for what is best for the club until the last day," Simeone told reporters.
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"Everyone is giving their maximum. What matters to me is the team and he is important to the team.
"If he gives us what we saw in the World Cup, he will be very important. He has the condition and the talent and the team need his qualities."
Simeone recently said that "no one is indispensable" when asked about a possible exit for the Portuguese during the January market.
"No one is indispensable and things will be as they have to be. It is very important for us. He has had a good World Cup, he participated in goals with the importance that the coach gave him," he told reporters.
"Hopefully we can have the best Joao who he saw himself in the World Cup. Hopefully we also give him that peace of mind and joy to show in the game all that was seen in the World Cup."
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Felix joined Atletico from Benfica in July 2019, and he has represented the capital outfit on 129 occasions in all competitions, contributing 33 goals and 18 assists in the process.
The attacker has found it difficult to make his mark for the Red and Whites this term, scoring four goals and registering three assists in 18 appearances in all competitions.
Felix was in strong form for Portugal at the 2022 World Cup, though, scoring once and providing two assists in four appearances, as the European side reached the quarter-finals of the competition.
A recent report claimed that Atletico would want an £8m loan fee for Felix in order to let him leave this month, while his proposed new club would also have to cover the attacker's wages.
Man United are allegedly preparing to sign a new forward on loan this month rather than on a permanent basis.
Matt Law
