Alex Baena has been one of the best players in La Liga over the last 12 months. Since the start of 2024 alone, he has registered 14 assists, and earlier this week, he registered his second international goal for Spain.
Because of his sparkling form, Baena has been regularly linked with leaving Villarreal, his boyhood club. Atletico Madrid are the latest to be rumoured with holding an interest, and he is reportedly considered to be their top target for the 2025 summer transfer window.
However, Sport say that Baena would not be interested in a move to Atleti – equally, he’d also turn down any Premier League sides that come for him, of that there has been several. Instead, the report states that he would only leave Villarreal if he could join Barcelona, whom he considers to be his “dream club”.
There’s no doubt that Baena is a fantastic player, but he would not fit in at Barcelona. The Catalans already have several attacking midfield options, so it would be better to spend the €60m that he’d cost on players that are more needed.
Revealed: Three United starlets are shortlisted for prestigious Golden Boy award
The shortlist for the prestigious Golden Boy award has been revealed, with English football well represented in the race to be named the best youngster in the men's game.
The Golden Boy award is handed out to the best young men's player aged 21 or below currently in a top league on the continent, as voted for by selected media outlets from across Europe.
It is an award that has been handed out to the likes of Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe over its 20-year history, with England superstar Jude Bellingham the current holder of the title.
In total, English players have won the award on three occasions - Raheem Sterling the other Three Lions star to have done so back in 2014 - but judging by the most recent shortlist, 2024 could see that number increase.
This year, Adam Wharton - who had a breakout year at Crystal Palace - is joined by Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund) and Rico Lewis (Manchester City).
Furthermore, the Premier League is represented by six players, with Leny Yoro, Alejandro Garnacho (both Manchester United) and Savio (Manchester City) joining Wharton, Mainoo and Lewis on the shortlist.
Barcelona are traditionally a byword for wonderkid production, and they are similarly represented by Pau Cubarsi and unsurprisingly the Euro 2024 young player of the tournament Lamine Yamal, who will surely be among the front-runners.
Fellow giants in the youth academy game Ajax have Jorrel Hato up for the gong, while Paris Saint-Germain trio Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves and Desire Doue make the shortlist.
Bayern Munich are represented by Aleksandar Pavlovic and Mathys Tel, with Real Madrid's Arda Guler and Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera also highlighting the strength in youth production across the Spanish top-flight.
Rounding out the list are Porto striker Samu Omorodion, Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, and RB Salzburg starlet Oscar Gloukh.
It is a dazzling array of talent and it is testimony to the increase in emphasis over recent years that there will be numerous names whose omissions fans will be querying right up until the award ceremony later this year.
