Baena says Álvarez’s comments angered his Atlético teammates

“We didn’t accept that.” Alex Baena used those words to describe his teammates’ response to Julián Álvarez’s public comments about wanting to leave Atlético de Madrid. The midfielder says the way the issue was handled mattered as much as the prospect of a departure, with the forward’s future a prominent topic around the club.

Speaking in an interview with Cadena SER, Baena said it was unusual for a player to make his wish to leave public. “It’s a little strange when a teammate publicly announces that he wants to leave,” he said, acknowledging that the players had not taken the comments well. He also drew a distinction between their frustration and the possibility that a teammate might be tempted by a major club. “I can understand any player hesitating when they receive an offer from a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid,” Baena said. In his view, it was above all the way Álvarez handled the situation that angered people at Atlético.

The events of the summer help explain the reaction. Last June, Álvarez said he had discussed his future with the club’s management. He said joining another team would be the best option for everyone and added that he was eager to fulfil his dream. In August, Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed his club’s interest in signing the forward. Atlético de Madrid nevertheless refused to sell him, in a saga that remained prominent in the Spanish sports press throughout the summer.

Baena also stressed that disagreement with the way the situation unfolded did not mean his teammates would withhold their support. He said they would have backed Álvarez whatever decision he made, adding that what mattered was that he was still with them and that they showed him their affection and support.

Last September, Barcelona sporting director Deco confirmed that his club had made an offer during the summer, while saying that “the Julián matter belongs to the past”. In October, Álvarez apologised to Atlético supporters for his comments. The jeers he had heard at the Metropolitano at the start of the season had eased, but signs of hostility towards him could still be heard. Baena’s remarks therefore point to a situation in which support from teammates exists alongside continuing tension around the player.