Álex Baena: How the Spanish Midfielder Forged His Character Under Pressure

In difficult moments, Álex Baena emerges. Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, recognizes players who are "selection material," and Baena has proven himself on the left wing during the World Cup. After an unsuccessful experiment with Gavi in that position, Baena stepped in, playing against Saudi Arabia, scoring against Uruguay, and assisting against Austria. He is now set to face Portugal.

Baena's shy yet determined character was forged early on. He recalls intense emotional struggles as a child, admitting, "I will never forget that my mother and I couldn't stop crying in the car to Villarreal." He experienced loneliness and "the blues" at night, even at age 11. This was not his only test of resilience. Despite being a regular in Spain's youth teams, the transition to Villarreal's first team was tough. He found a temporary home at Girona, then in the second division, where he showcased both skill and character.

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Nunca olvidaré que en el coche a Villarreal mi madre y yo no parábamos de llorar.

Quique Cárcel, Girona's sporting director, remembers Baena as "very decisive in key moments mentally" and possessing a competitive "gen" for aggression, leadership, goals, and assists. However, uncertainty resurfaced when Baena returned to Villarreal. He confessed to considering quitting football after a controversial and unresolved confrontation with Real Madrid's Fede Valverde. This incident, amplified by Real Madrid's powerful platform, brought "criticism, death threats to me and my family," which deeply affected him.

De la Fuente offered Baena a lifeline, calling him up to the senior national team. Baena repaid the trust, becoming a European champion and winning gold at the 2024 Olympics. He credits a psychologist with helping him overcome thoughts of abandoning the sport. Further challenges arose at Atlético Madrid, with adaptation issues and injuries, including appendicitis. Yet, through it all, Baena has persevered, with De la Fuente again calling him up for the World Cup, recognizing his crucial role when "everything gets complicated."

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Críticas, amenazas de muerte a mí y a mi familia, encender la tele y verme. Era la primera vez que tenía tanta repercusión. Al final, es el Madrid.