Joao Felix is one of Europe's hottest wonderkids. 

The 19-year-old is on the 20-man shortlist for the Golden Boy award after impressing with Benfica during the 2018/19 season. 

He scored 20 goals and assisted 11 more in 40 appearances for the Portuguese club, before securing a £113 million move to Atletico Madrid last summer.  

Since moving to the Spanish capital, Felix has already made an impression and is settling in very well. 

But things could have been very different. 

According to The Athletic, per The Sun, Manchester United were discussing a transfer with Benfica, but pulled out of the deal. 

Why? because they had fears the youngster 'wouldn't be able to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League'. 

They even compared Felix with former Premier League player Michael Ricketts - which seems a massive insult. 

"Michael Ricketts was a world-beater for one season," a source told The Athletic. 

"The secret is to find someone like Mohamed Salah, who plays brilliantly one season, then the following year, and the year after that." 

Man United could come to regret this decision - and the comparison to Ricketts. 

The Red Devils have been toothless in attack so far this season and are struggling after the departures of forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. 

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood are United's only options and they've scored just five Premier League goals between them in eight games. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is certainly lacking a player like Felix right now. But, United's loss is Atletico's gain. 

The forward has scored three times in 10 appearances already and at just 19, his best years are certainly ahead of him.

Felix didn't fare too badly against Sergio Ramos in the first Madrid derby of the season either and he's a rather physical defender. 

Couldn't cut it in the Premier League? Yeah, right.