FC Barcelona has moved ahead in the race to sign Álex Baena. They are now in the same group as big teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Newcastle. Hansi Flick is in charge of the Catalan club, and they want to sign the bright 23-year-old midfielder to make their central defense stronger.

The center already has young stars like Pedri, Gavi, and Casadó, as well as more experienced players like Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo. Baena could be the last piece that makes this already dominant La Liga team even more dynamic and creative.

At the start of the season, Baena has been one of the most important players. He has scored a goal and set up five others in just seven games, making him the best assistant in the event so far. Several of Europe’s best teams are interested in Villarreal’s player because of how well he played. They see him as a midfielder who can make a difference by both starting plays and finishing them.

Álex Baena is the new star of LaLiga.

Baena’s deal with Villarreal ends in 2028, which gives the Castellón club some short-term peace of mind about his future. But teams like Barcelona are becoming more interested, which could put pressure on them to discuss a transfer before his contract ends. The price to sign him is thought to be around 50 million euros, which is a lot of money that might be worth it given how good the player is and how much promise he has.

Not only is Barcelona betting on the short term when they want to add Baena to their team, but they also have a long-term plan. The Spanish playmaker could make the team one of the best and most complete in Europe. They already have a lot of young players who are still developing. At the same time, sides like Real Madrid, which also wants to improve their midfield, won’t sit back and do nothing. They expect a very competitive summer transfer market.

In the coming months, the race for Baena is likely to be one of the hottest topics in European football. Barcelona seems eager to fight for one of Spain’s brightest football prospects.