The #10 shirt at Atlético de Madrid comes with an enormous duty.
For some gamers, it’s an ideal match. Paulo Futre and Sergio Agüero are two of probably the most gifted people ever to play for this membership. Arda Turan and Ángel Correa have been champions who wore that shirt quantity. Regardless of his volatility, Yannick Carrasco is likely one of the extra memorable gamers of the Diego Simeone, and he was this membership’s #10 for a time.
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For others, the #10 shirt is way too giant. It’s a millstone, a burden that creates further strain and expectation that may’t be met. I’m considering of Mateja Kežman, for Atlético followers of a sure age. Óliver Torres, as soon as some of the promising prospects from the Atleti academy, wilted underneath the highlight when he was awarded the #10 shirt following Arda’s departure for FC Barcelona in 2015.
Halfway via his first season at Atlético, the uber-talented Álex Baena considerably extremely finds himself on this latter class.
Although he has proven of brilliance and , Baena’s debut season within the Spanish capital has been a significant disappointment. A participant whose distinctive model generated previously two seasons, Baena has struggled to make the step up from Villarreal to Atleti — and his most up-to-date performances present a participant who, bodily and tactically, isn’t becoming in.
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Following his highly-anticipated €42 million transfer from Villarreal in July, Baena has registered solely two objectives and one help over 16 appearances (829 minutes) in LaLiga. In 11 appearances throughout three different competitions, the Spain worldwide has but to contribute a aim or an help. The star arrival from final summer time’s window — which, six months on, has been disastrous apart from — Baena has spent 54 days out with three separate accidents, and he has performed 90 minutes precisely as soon as.
Anticipated to shine behind Julián Alvarez, in a free left-midfield function much like the one who loved at Villarreal, Baena as a substitute has discovered that the construction right here doesn’t assist him. In Marcelino’s workforce, Baena benefitted from enjoying forward of ball-winners like Santi Comesaña and Dani Parejo; at Atlético, Johnny Cardoso was presupposed to fill this function, however the USA worldwide has missed two-thirds of the season via harm. Koke, in addition to he has carried out this season, just isn’t a destroyer who affords freewheeling creator Baena the posh of dropping the ball 11 occasions per sport.
On one hand, it makes me suppose that extra logical signings will assist make clear Baena’s function within the workforce. On the opposite, it’s been 5 weeks since he was hauled off earlier than the hour in a Copa del Rey match towards , and Baena is having the identical issues: he lacks synergy and combos with others. His isolation on the sector of play is palpable: Baena’s key passes per 90 minutes in LaLiga have dipped from 3.1 in 2024/25 to 1.4 this season. He created 21 “massive probabilities” a season in the past, and he’s accrued solely six as a Rojiblanco. Plus, Diego Simeone received’t play him greater than an hour in most circumstances.
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Three aim contributions from 27 appearances just isn’t what anybody had in thoughts for Baena when he accomplished his switch to Atlético. And although the membership has insisted that — in fact he does, he’s signed to 2030 — I’m reminded of one thing I wrote when for Mexican aspect Tigres final summer time:
“I don’t envy whoever takes the #10 shirt subsequent, as a result of it won’t be straightforward to switch that which Ángel Correa Martínez dropped at Atlético de Madrid.”
Thus far, Baena hasn’t come shut.