Atletico Madrid star reveals he almost quit from football

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 among the best playmakers in La Liga throughout his time at La Ceramica. Nevertheless, there was a time when he might not have ended up on the RiyadhAir Metropolitano.

Talking to EFE (by way of Marca), Baena revealed that he thought of quitting soccer through the 2023-24 season, however with the assistance of his household, buddies and a psychologist, he discovered the power to proceed taking part in.

“After shedding the ultimate with the U21s (in 2023) and after my first call-up to the senior group, I used to be in a nasty private second, even with ideas of quitting soccer, of leaving every little thing. 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 capable of get out of all these ideas, of that unhealthy second. We have been all capable of get out of it collectively.

“Individuals solely see the great, that they know you on the road and assume that it’s constructive, though it’s not. The problem of cash, that you simply stay very properly… however they don’t know the unhealthy factor behind it. Being 24 hours conscious, caring for your self, touring with out seeing your loved ones, not with the ability to do what your mates do as a result of it’s a must to maintain meals and relaxation. You solely see the gorgeous, however soccer may be very exhausting. Solely those that are shut realize it. Though we’re privileged, there’s nonetheless a nasty half and half.”

Baena: “I haven’t heard anybody say that we wish to be third”

Baena additionally mirrored on his first few months at Atleti, as he additionally revealed that he and his new teammates usually are not ready to play third fiddle to Barcelona and Actual Madrid.

“I’m very snug. Individuals speak with out realizing a dressing room from the within, Cholo, and assume many issues, but it surely’s all very completely different. He talks to me, he places a number of depth into me, his talks are prime, they make you exit on the sector desirous to eat the world. He’s among the best coaches on the earth and other people typically imagine nonsense that comes out within the press, issues that aren’t true. In the event that they have been within the dressing room, they may speak about what Cholo is like.

“I haven’t heard anybody say that we wish to be third. Quite the opposite, we’re all the time with the message that we wish to win titles, that we’ve to combat to win them – although we’re competing in opposition to Barcelona and Actual Madrid, which may be very tough.”