Atlético de Madrid has already set its transfer machinery in motion, and the name highlighted in red on Cholo Simeone's wish list is Alex Baena. The talented attacking midfielder from Villarreal has been one of La Liga's revelations for a long time, and Simeone has expressly requested him.
Atlético is willing to make a significant investment to secure his services, and everything indicates that they will pay the €60 million (60 million euros) Villarreal is asking for. Although there is competition for his signing, Atlético de Madrid has the advantage and wants to finalize as soon as possible a deal that would undoubtedly mark a turning point in its planning.
Villarreal already looks for a replacement for its star
Alex Baena's departure would leave a huge void in Villarreal's line-up, especially as the club prepares to face the great challenge of competing in the Champions League. With his exit, the team would lose its main offensive reference and a key player in playmaking. The club's sporting management is already working against the clock to find a replacement who meets the demands of the challenging season ahead.
The need to build a competitive, deep, and talented squad is urgent, since Villarreal wants to perform well in Europe without neglecting its performance in La Liga. In this context, the club seems to have set its sights on Barça.
Pablo Torre on Villarreal's radar
According to El Nacional, the player Villarreal has targeted is Pablo Torre. The Cantabrian midfielder has had a complicated season at Barça, marked by a lack of minutes due to fierce competition in his position. With names like Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and others, Torre has barely had opportunities to show his potential.
Despite this, Barça trusts his talent and doesn't want to lose sight of him. The idea of the blaugrana club is to renew Pablo Torre's contract beyond 2026, to protect his development, and then look for a temporary move that would allow him to develop. Villarreal, which offers minutes, European competition, and a play style that fits his characteristics well, appears to be the ideal destination.
Barça's plan would be to loan him to Villarreal or even transfer him with a buy-back clause, thus ensuring that if he excels, he could return to the club in the future. For Villarreal, it would be a way to cover Baena's departure with a young, talented player with experience at the top level. For Pablo Torre, it is a golden opportunity to grow, prove himself, and return to Barça as a consolidated player.