La Liga
Atlético de Madrid has set its sights on Álex Baena, the current player of Villarreal, as one of its main targets to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season. The 23-year-old Almeria-born footballer has had an excellent season with the Yellow Submarine and is highly favored by Diego Pablo Simeone, who believes he could be the ideal piece to solidify the left flank of the team.
Baena is under contract until 2028 with a release clause of 60 million euros, a figure that Atlético will hardly be able to afford. Nevertheless, work is already underway at the Wanda Metropolitano on an alternative plan to entice Villarreal: including Rodrigo Riquelme in the deal.
They Want to Lower the Price for Álex Baena
The young Atlético midfielder, who has not been able to secure a regular starting position in Simeone's scheme this season, is admired by the Castellon-based club. His profile fits perfectly with Villarreal's style of play: a technical, offensive player with a good understanding of the game. Riquelme, under contract with Atlético until 2028 and valued at around 18 million euros, could help facilitate an agreement between the two clubs.
The relationship between Atlético and Villarreal in the transfer market has been smooth in recent years, and both clubs have already had informal discussions, as reported by the newspaper AS. While there is no formal proposal on the table yet, the option of a partial exchange involving Riquelme is gaining traction in the Atlético offices. The summer market will be crucial in finalizing a deal that could generate significant attention.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El intercambio que el Atlético de Madrid ofrece por Álex Baena
