Álex Baena, from the double in summer to a future… red and white?: “To leave it would have to be to a world top-10”

Álex Baena (Roquetas de Mar, 2001) visits this Saturday what could be his home from next season. The midfielder of Villarreal has been on the agenda of some of the most important clubs on the continent for a long time but the name that has been most popular lately is Atlético. “They are always sending you things on Whatsapp or they are arriving to me, but I am focused on finishing the season with Villarreal, on continuing here because it is where I am happiest,” said the player last December.

At the same time, the man from Almería did not close any doors, aware that his growth in recent years means that his natural evolution is to raise the level. “I have always said that to leave Villarreal it would have to be to a better team, and better than Villarreal it would have to be one in the world top 10. “I have always said that Villarreal is the club of my life, I am very happy here and if one day that opportunity or an offer arrives we will sit down to talk and look at everything for the good of both of us.”

His termination clause amounts to 60 million eurosalthough the Castellón club would not reject an offer slightly below that figure if it interests all parties, as its president usually says, Fernando Roig. Everything indicates that this offer may arrive next summer, since the club sees it as unlikely that it will come out before next February 3, when the deadline closes.

“it will continue”

“In the winter market it is very difficult for Baena to leave. The people of Villarreal can rest assured because he will continue,” indicated the CEO. Fernando Roig Negueroleslast week about a player who is already one of the benchmarks in LaLiga – he was the top assistant last season along with Nico Williams– in addition to one of the regulars in the calls of the Spanish team.

The man from Almeria is one of those who made double this past summer with Spain. He was part of the team that won the Euro Cup and then joined the Olympic team that won gold in the Paris Gamesin whose final he contributed a goal and an assist. He has been with Villarreal for five of each this season, in which he is not currently complaining about the fact that he has barely had any vacations after his busy summer. In fact, he is the third player on the squad who has accumulated the most minutes so far in the championship.

“A great leap of maturity”

“I’m feeling very good, also thanks to the team, but compared to last season I think I’ve taken a big leap in maturity in terms of the game and myself,” says the player, who may have been helped in this sense by everything experienced following the incident with Fede Valverde.

Baena lived through difficult moments after the clash he had in the Santiago Bernabéu parking lot with the Real Madrid player, whom he reported for assault – a complaint that was filed – but the page has now been turned. “We have faced each other a couple of times after what happened and with total normality. I already said at the time that things happened, I forgive everything that has happened because to move forward as a person and in life you have to know how to forgive and forget.” and, for my part, everything is fine. If one day you can talk to him and clarify what happened, then go ahead,” the Villarreal player said recently.