At this point, it can't be denied that Álex Baena is poised to become one of the main sagas of next summer. The Spanish midfielder was the top assist provider in all of Europe in 2024, catching the attention of the continent's most important clubs. Evidently, Atlético de Madrid is one of the interested parties and they won't hesitate to try to secure his signing once the transfer market opens.
Last winter, the Villarreal player received an exorbitant offer from Saudi Arabia where he would have earned 18 million euros as a salary. However, he rejected that proposal, as he is very clear about what his destination should be if he decides to leave the Yellow Submarine. In a recent interview with Relevo, he spoke again on this aspect, leaving a hint that is sure to generate excitement among the colchonero team.
Álex Baena Remembers Atlético de Madrid
At the Metropolitanothey have a clear plan for strengthening the squad for the next season, focusing on some of the best players in the world. One of them is Álex Baena, who last summer lifted the Euro Cup with Spain and won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. He is one of Simeone's main desires and the player hasn't closed the door to wearing the red and white jersey next season.
"If I had to leave Villarreal, well here in Spain the three big ones are an option, there's nothing to envy from Premier teams or other countries," he explained. Some time ago, Álex Baena stated that he would only leave the Yellow Submarine if he joined one of the top 10 teams in the world. It is clear that among his options is Atlético de Madrid, where he wouldn't mind landing and being under Simeone's orders.
The Champions League Problem
One of the major obstacles in this operation is not the interest of other clubs, but the possibility that Villarreal qualifies to play in the Champions League. Spanish clubs are almost certainly going to have a fifth spot to play in the Champions League, a position held by the Castellon team. In that case, the sentiment could compel Álex Baena to stay at his current club and compete in the top club competition.
"I've never played it, I would like to do it with Villarreal, it would fulfill my dream of playing the Champions with them," revealed the Spaniard. However, he has always left the door open for the summer market, where he still doesn't know what will happen for his future. The only sure thing is that he will have many offers so he will have to decide what the next step is to take a leap in his career.