Alex Baena: Atletico Madrid midfielder watches Barcelona ‘for Lamine Yamal’

Alex Baena says Lamine Yamal is the only player, alongside Lionel Messi, who makes him want to watch a match purely to see him play.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder named Yamal, Rodri and Messi as his top three choices for the Ballon d’Or, placing the Barcelona winger at the top of his personal ranking.

“I am very clear about it. My top three are Lamine, Rodri and Messi,” Baena said. He then went further in his assessment of Yamal, adding: “For me, Lamine is the best player in the world.”

Baena, who previously admitted during his time at Villarreal that playing for Barcelona was “one of my biggest dreams”, said his admiration for Yamal was not limited to watching him in matches.

“I have seen him training a lot this summer. These are things you do not see any team-mate doing,” he said.

The Atletico player compared the experience of watching Yamal with the feeling he had when following Messi during the Argentine’s career.

“I think he is one of the few players I watch matches for. The only other player I did that with was Messi. I watched games to see him play, and the same thing happens with Lamine,” Baena said.

Asked about Barcelona, Baena said Yamal had become a major reason for following the club.

“I watch Barcelona because of him, and for several other reasons, but if he does not play, it would be very difficult for me to watch them,” he said.

Baena also praised Rodri’s performances for Spain and acknowledged what Messi had achieved, but made clear that Yamal remained his leading choice.

Baena says Alvarez is recovering emotionally

Baena also provided an update on his Atletico Madrid team-mate Julian Alvarez, saying the Argentina forward had improved emotionally after a difficult period during the summer.

“I see him much better emotionally. In the end, it was a very difficult process for him, especially on a personal level,” Baena said.

He explained that Atletico’s players had tried to support Alvarez throughout that period.

“We tried to help him as much as possible, and we always understand him,” Baena added.

According to the midfielder, Alvarez is gradually regaining his confidence and happiness.

“Now he is very well and looking forward to the end of the year and helping us as much as possible. Every day he smiles more with his team-mates, and in the end that is the most important thing,” Baena said.