Atletico Madrid players were unhappy with Julian Alvarez over transfer saga

Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena has opened up about the friction caused within the squad when forward Julian Alvarez publicly pushed to leave the club for Barcelona during the transfer window. The saga began while the Argentine striker was participating with his national team, expressing his desire to wear the Barcelona jersey.

Although the move ultimately fell through after Atletico Madrid refused to sanction the departure, the public nature of the transfer request left a bitter taste inside the team's locker room. Speaking in an interview, Baena admitted that the squad was taken aback by their teammate's public statements.

“It feels a bit strange when a teammate publicly says he wants to leave. We didn't take it very well,” Baena stated. While acknowledging that players can experience doubts when major clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling, the midfielder emphasized that the method of delivery was the primary issue.

According to Baena, the squad would have backed Alvarez regardless of his decision if the matter had been handled differently. “I understand that a player might have doubts if Barça or Real Madrid are coming for him, but in the end, I think it was the way he did it that bothered us at Atletico quite a bit,” he explained.

Following the conclusion of the transfer window, Alvarez addressed his teammates directly to clear the air. Baena praised the forward for taking accountability and offering a sincere apology to the group, noting that it demonstrated his maturity and intelligence.

“He's a very intelligent guy and he knew what he did and how it might have affected us. He apologized to all of us and that makes him much more admirable,” Baena said. The Spanish midfielder also acknowledged the hostile reaction from the club's supporters, who subjected Alvarez to whistles and criticism following the controversy.

While understanding the fans' anger over the situation, Baena expressed confidence that the forward is fully committed to recovering his best form and winning back the supporters' affection through hard work on the pitch. “We need him a lot to achieve our goals, and little by little he'll win back the fans' affection,” the midfielder added.

The remarks follow a tough 2-1 defeat for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona at the Metropolitano stadium. Despite missing several scoring opportunities during the match, Baena defended his teammate against external pressure, noting that elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have also experienced difficult nights on the field.