KOKE has insisted Joao Felix will return to Atletico Madrid once his loan at Chelsea expires.
The Spanish midfielder believes the attacker will be benefitting from the game time he is getting at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Felix joined Chelsea on loan in JanuaryGetty
Koke is sure he will be back at Atletico Madrid next seasonGetty
Felix joined the Blues in January for a fee of £10million and after a shaky start has largely impressed.
The Portugal international was sent off on his debut against Fulham, but has since been a key figure in Chelsea’s recent improvement.
Felix left the LaLiga side along with Matheus Cunha, who joined Wolves, after a disappointing first half of the season with Atletico.
The club was knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage and have been well off the pace of rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But Koke is adament that Felix will be back in Spain for next season.
He told Mundo Deportivo: “They were important players within the team.
“They made the decision to leave.
“Joao transferred and Cunha transferred. They are decisions of each one.
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“Totally respectable. Joao is picking up the rhythm of the games, he is gaining confidence for the coming season to come back here.
“And to Cunha, I wish him all the best.”
Chelsea do not have an option to buy Felix at the end of his loan deal.
The 23-year-old has also had to deal with people mispronouncing his name in England.
He insists his name is pronouncd “Joao Fell-ix”.
When Koke was asked what he called his former team-mate, he replied with laughter saying: “Joao”.