![BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona on the ball whilst under pressure from Alex Baena of Villarreal CF during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on January 27, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/fc-barcelona-v-villarreal-cf-laliga-ea-sports-19-scaled.jpg)
Although the team is not going through one of its best periods, there is no doubt that Barcelona remain one of the best and most attractive clubs in the world of football.
As a result, a lot of professional players have the dream to don the blue and garnet jersey at some point in their careers, and this is certainly the case for the Villarreal midfielder, Alex Baena, who recently publicised his desire to play for the Blaugranes in the future.
One can understand why the Spaniard would want to play for FC Barcelona, but there is no denying that he still remains a Villarreal player. In fact, as Mundo Deportivo has reported, the Villarreal president, Fernando Roig Alfonso, made it clear that his entity will have to be taken into account if the player wants to change clubs.
However, the top Villarreal official did not entirely close the doors on a possible departure of the player, as he commented: “The day that happens, you already know what I always say, that there are three parties: the buyer, the seller, and the player. What we want is for there to be better players every time.”
“The other day, Baena received some attention, but if he does it in another team, it’s all over the news. He’s been here since he was nine or ten years old, he has been developed here.”
Furthermore, Roig also commented that at the moment there was no approach made by any club for their star player at this moment: “I don’t know what will happen. No one has come here to inquire about them.”
At this point in time, it looks increasingly difficult that Barcelona will be able to get the Spanish playmaker. His release clause of €60 million in a contract that goes till 2028 means Villarreal will have a very strong bargaining position for him, and the Catalans cannot afford to pay such a high sum for anyone unless their economic difficulties are solved.