'It didn't sit very well': Baena admits Álvarez transfer request irked Atlético team-mates

Atlético Madrid midfielder Álex Baena admits Julián Álvarez's attempts to join Barcelona this summer "annoyed" the rest of Diego Simeone's squad.

Álvarez was at the heart of one of the most high-profile sagas during the summer transfer window, after saying it was his "dream" to join Barça.

Barça president Joan Laporta was not shy about the club's desire to acquire the former World Cup winner, but the Atleti hierarchy responded by saying they would never do a deal with their domestic rivals.

Ultimately, Álvarez stayed put, with Barça moving for Gabriel Jesus at the end of the window, to provide competition for Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.

The Argentine's return to the fold saw him booed by his own fans during a draw with Villarreal in August, but he has since been fully reintegrated by head coach Diego Simeone.

Yet Baena said the way Álvarez approached the speculation did not earn him much support in Atleti's dressing room.

"It feels a bit strange when a team-mate says publicly that he wants to leave," the Spain international said in an interview with Cadena SER.

"It didn't sit very well with us.

"I can understand a player having doubts if a club like Barça or Real Madrid comes in for you, but, ultimately, it was the way he went about it that really annoyed us at Atlético."

Now, though, Baena says all has been forgiven and Álvarez deserves to be supported by everyone at the club.

"We would have supported him regardless of what he decided to do," Baena added.

"The important thing is that he is with us now, and we need to show him all the affection in the world."

Álvarez has netted just twice in all competitions this season while providing three assists, having teed up Giuliano Simeone's opening goal in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Barça.

Álvarez led all Atlético players for shots (four), touches in the opposition box (seven) and successful dribbles (three) in that game, while also creating two chances.

Atlético's defeat snapped their seven-game winning run in LaLiga. They sit third in the table, two points behind second-place Real Madrid and five adrift of leaders Barça.

Álvarez could feature for Argentina during the international break, as they face Uruguay and Costa Rica in friendlies, while Baena and his Spain team-mates will take on Czechia and England in the Nations League.