Baena says Alvarez request annoyed team-mates

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Alvarez was at the heart of one of the most high-profile sagas during the summer transfer window, after saying it was his "dream" to join Barca.

Barca president Joan Laporta was not shy about the club's desire to acquire the former World Cup winner, but the Atleti hierarchy responded by saying the club would never do a deal with its domestic rival.

Ultimately, Alvarez stayed put, with Barca moving for Gabriel Jesus at the end of the window, to provide competition for Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.

The Argentine's return to the fold saw him booed by his own fans during a draw with Villarreal in August, but he has since been fully reintegrated by head coach Diego Simeone.

Yet Baena said the way Alvarez approached the speculation did not earn him much support in Atleti's dressing room. 

"It feels a bit strange when a team-mate says publicly that he wants to leave," the Spain international said. "It didn't sit very well with us. 

"I can understand a player having doubts if a club like Barca or Real Madrid comes in for you, but, ultimately, it was the way he went about it that really annoyed us at Atletico."

Now, though, Baena says all has been forgiven and Alvarez deserves to be supported by everyone at the club.

"We would have supported him regardless of what he decided to do," Baena said. "The important thing is that he is with us now, and we need to show him all the affection in the world."

Alvarez has scored just twice in all competitions this season while providing three assists, having teed up Giuliano Simeone's opening goal in the 2-1 loss to Barca. 

Atleti's defeat snapped their seven-game winning run in LaLiga. It sits third in the table, two points behind second-place Real Madrid and five adrift of Barca.

Alvarez could feature for Argentina during the international break, as it faces Uruguay and Costa Rica in friendlies, while Baena and his Spain team-mates will take on Czechia and England in the Nations League.