Alex Baena’s summer time transfer from Villarreal to Atletico Madrid was seen as one of many strikes of the switch window, with the Spain worldwide having been probably the greatest playmakers in La Liga throughout his time at La Ceramica. Nonetheless, there was a time when he could not have ended up on the RiyadhAir Metropolitano.
Chatting with EFE (by way of Marca), Baena revealed that he thought-about quitting soccer through the 2023-24 season, however with the assistance of his household, mates and a psychologist, he discovered the power to proceed taking part in.
“After dropping the ultimate with the U21s (in 2023) and after my first call-up to the senior crew, I used to be in a nasty private second, even with ideas of quitting soccer, of leaving the whole lot. However with the assistance of a psychologist, with whom I’ve been working for a very long time, with my household, my mom and my siblings, I used to be in a position to get out of all these ideas, of that unhealthy second. We have been all in a position to get out of it collectively.
“Folks solely see the nice, that they know you on the road and suppose that it’s constructive, though it’s not. The problem of cash, that you just dwell very effectively… however they don’t know the unhealthy factor behind it. Being 24 hours conscious, taking good care of your self, touring with out seeing your loved ones, not having the ability to do what your mates do as a result of you need to maintain meals and relaxation. You solely see the attractive, however soccer could be very exhausting. Solely those that are shut understand it. Though we’re privileged, there’s nonetheless a nasty half and an excellent half.”
Baena: “I haven’t heard anybody say that we need to be third”
Baena additionally mirrored on his first few months at Atleti, as he additionally revealed that he and his new teammates aren’t ready to play third fiddle to Barcelona and Actual Madrid.
“I’m very comfy. Folks discuss with out realizing a dressing room from the within, Cholo, and suppose many issues, however it’s all very completely different. He talks to me, he places numerous depth into me, his talks are prime, they make you exit on the sector eager to eat the world. He’s probably the greatest coaches on the planet and folks usually consider nonsense that comes out within the press, issues that aren’t true. In the event that they have been within the dressing room, they might discuss what Cholo is like.
“I haven’t heard anybody say that we need to be third. Quite the opposite, we’re all the time with the message that we need to win titles, that we now have to battle to win them – though we’re competing towards Barcelona and Actual Madrid, which could be very troublesome.”