Atletico Madrid refused Barcelona's request for Joao Felix to be included in a swap deal for Antoine Griezmann, claims Deportes Cuatro.
Barcelona are currently in talks to send Griezmann back to Atletico with Saul Niguez moving to Camp Nou as they desperately look to trim their wage bill.
Ronald Koeman's side have asked a number of their star players to accept huge wage cuts this summer as the club accounts for huge financial losses as a result of the global pandemic.
Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to accept a wage cut of around 50% to renew with the club, albeit over a five-year deal when he will be 39 at the end of it.
Barcelona are now looking to offload Griezmann and a return to the Wanda Metropolitano is now on the cards.
The Spanish giants look set to receive Atletico midfielder Saul in return but it has now emerged they initially requested Portuguese starlet Felix.
Felix has struggled to live up to the price tag since completing a shock £113m move to Atletico from Benfica two years ago and actually ended last season out of the team.
The Portugal international's decicsion to join Atletico raised eyebrows at the time given Diego Simeone's defensive-first approach and his woes are of no real surprise.
However, Atletico are not interested in giving up on their most expensive ever signing just yet.
The 21-year-old remarkably made more substitute appearances (17) than starts (14) in Atletico's title-winning campaign last term.
He at least managed a direct hand in five more league goals (12) than his debut season for Atletico from 222 fewer minutes.
