and midfielder Alex Baena has addressed his long-running rivalry with and ace Federico Valverde forward of the 2 nations’ assembly on the FIFA World Cup.
Talking throughout an interview with El Partidazo de COPE (h/t ), Baena mirrored on the connection that has remained underneath the highlight since their notorious altercation in 2023, insisting that any rigidity between the pair seems to have an effect on his opponent greater than himself.
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Baena speaks out
Requested whether or not going through Valverde once more would create additional strain, when Spain tackle Uruguay on the World Cup Baena dismissed the suggestion with a light-hearted response.
“No… from what I’ve seen, it appears to have an effect on him a bit greater than me,” the Atletico ace mentioned.
The Atletico Madrid midfielder added that, regardless of all the things that has occurred between them, their interactions earlier than matches have remained respectful.
Valverde has had a number of run-ins with Baena. (Photograph by Lars Baron/Getty Photos)
“We’ve at all times been respectful towards one another and we’ve shaken fingers earlier than video games.”
Nonetheless, Baena admitted he nonetheless doesn’t know whether or not the Actual Madrid midfielder has moved on from their earlier disputes.
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“Possibly Valverde has a sure fixation on me. I’ve by no means requested him whether or not he nonetheless holds a grudge or whether or not he’s forgiven me. Possibly he has, or possibly it was merely a part of the sport. I don’t know.”
Reflecting on their most up-to-date assembly, throughout which Valverde was despatched off, Baena instructed there could have been extra to the problem than simply soccer.
“Watching the incident again, I feel there could have been a little bit of fixation. However soccer strikes so rapidly. If it had been one other teammate, possibly the identical factor would have occurred.”
The incident that sparked the feud
The rivalry between Baena and Valverde dates again to April 2023 following a La Liga match between Actual Madrid and .
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After a heated encounter on the pitch, Valverde confronted Baena within the stadium parking space, the place following claims that offensive feedback had been made about his household throughout earlier conferences.
The problem began manner again in 2023. (Photograph by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Photos)
Folks near Valverde later claimed that Baena had made remarks relating to the tough being pregnant skilled by Valverde and his companion.
In accordance with that model of occasions, the confrontation stemmed from feedback allegedly directed on the midfielder throughout each a Copa del Rey match and their subsequent league assembly.
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Baena instantly and publicly denied ever making these feedback, rejecting the accusations by his social media accounts.
Since that incident, the connection between the 2 midfielders has remained distant.
Though they’ve constantly behaved professionally earlier than matches, each assembly between them has carried an added layer of rigidity, each on and off the pitch.
Their upcoming World Cup conflict between Spain and Uruguay will subsequently entice further consideration, not solely due to the significance of the fixture but in addition as a result of it marks one other chapter in one of many recreation’s most talked-about private rivalries.