Alex Baena backs Julian Alvarez’s dream while staying at Atletico

Julian Alvarez has publicly declared his desire to leave Atletico Madrid this summer, sparking a high‑profile tug‑of‑war with Barcelona, while teammate Alex Baena expressed surprise at reports of a FIFA complaint and affirmed his own intention to remain at Atletico.

When asked about the alleged FIFA complaint, Baena said during an interview with COPE, “Really? I had no idea.. This is the first time I’ve heard about it.” His reaction suggested he was unaware of any formal dispute between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.

Baena admitted the forward’s statements surprised him, noting, “Yes, a little, because I wasn’t expecting a statement like that from a teammate, but it’s a personal matter.” He added that if the Argentine’s dream is to join Barcelona, he would encourage him to pursue it.

Speaking about his own future, Baena declared, “As for me, I’ll stay at Atletico Madrid, and that’s really what I want.” He made clear that his loyalty lies with the club despite the ongoing transfer saga.

Baena also reflected on player autonomy, stating, “We players never stop being people who have to carry out decisions.” He implied that clubs should respect individual choices even when negotiations are complex.

He warned that if Atletico Madrid refuses to sell Alvarez, the player will have to accept that decision, saying, “If Atletico doesn’t want to sell him, he’ll have to accept the decision, but this isn’t the time to talk about it; after the World Cup, they’ll certainly sit down to discuss it.” The timeline indicates that substantive talks are expected only after the upcoming World Cup.

The saga has become one of the summer’s biggest transfer stories, with Atletico Madrid retaining control of Alvarez’s contract and showing no intention of easing a Barcelona move. The accompanying images were captured by photographers Fran Santiago and Rodrigo Valle for Getty Images.