Álex Baena questions Julián Álvarez's departure to Barcelona
Álex Baena, sports journalist, spoke at the press conference with the Spanish national team about the case of Julián Álvarez. The attacking midfielder commented during the national team camp days after the 1‑2 loss to Barcelona, a club that offered 100 million for the forward in the summer.
Management of the episode at Atlético
Baena put words to what was experienced in the locker room of Atlético Madrid during the summer. When asked about the case of Julián Álvarez, the midfielder did not dodge the discomfort caused by the desire to leave that the Argentine expressed during the 2026 World Cup. Baena framed the discomfort in the support of the group and in Julián Álvarez's apology to the fans.
Baena said: “We understand his situation, but it didn’t sit entirely well.” Baena is a world champion with Spain this summer and one of the fittest players in Diego Simeone’s squad. The nuance Baena introduced is aimed at the way the episode was handled, not at the forward’s desire to move on. Baena explained: “What upset the people at Atlético were the manners… We have always supported him.”
Atlético Madrid rejected Julián’s departure, who wanted to play at Barcelona. The Argentine started the season at the Metropolitano amid whistles. Against Manchester United he was dismissed with boos when he was substituted in the 71st minute.
Diego Simeone defended: “We need Julián.” Baena chose the same word that Julián himself had used.
Public apologies and locker room assessment
On October 24, after scoring the 1‑0 goal against Deportivo in the 48th minute, the Argentine asked for forgiveness on the Movistar Plus microphones. He said: “I wanted to apologise to our people for my words during the World Cup. They were a mistake, both in the manner and the timing.”
Baena stated that the rectification is now valued by the locker room. He declared: “He has already apologised to us publicly and that elevates him.”
Sporting consequences and league position
On the pitch, the relationship between them was already working before the apology. Julián was decisive in the build‑up to Baena’s goal in the 89th minute against Espanyol. Afterwards he chained together two consecutive matches scoring: the 1‑1 in Stuttgart in the Champions League and the goal against Deportivo.
The defeat to Barcelona left Atlético five points behind the leader. That loss shifted the focus back to the forward, precisely against the club that pursued him in the summer. Diego Simeone summed up after that match: “We need the best Julián Álvarez, otherwise we won’t get there.” Baena’s words close, at least from the locker room, a chapter that the Metropolitano stands had already begun to close, with the whistles turning into applause after his apology.