Villarreal player Álex Baena has denied allegations made by Federico Valverde of Real Madrid, who claimed he acted out of response to insults during a recent game.[expander_maker id=”1″ ] Baena released a statement on social media dismissing the accusations and insisting that Valverde had sought to justify his violent behavior by leveraging a personal tragedy.

The young forward encouraged transparency, noting that no evidence had been produced to support the allegations lodged against him. In his post, Baena expressed regret over the damage that Valverde’s accusations had inflicted upon him and his family. He revealed that he had reported the matter to the police and implored the justice system to do its work.

Baena’s letter read as follows:

“On Saturday, I was assaulted by a fellow professional after the match against Real Madrid. Following the incident, statements were made allegedly by those in his inner circle, claiming that I had wished pain upon a family member. Since then, and unsurprisingly, no proof has been published to substantiate the purported facts I’m accused of. A tragedy has been manipulated to justify violence, and lies hurt more than blows. The harm caused to my family is irreparable and unjustifiable, including threats, insults, and even private messages wishing death upon my loved ones. Yesterday, I reported the case to the police. Let justice do its job. My only objective now is to focus on my profession and help my club achieve its objectives.”

Players are expected to maintain decorum both on and off the pitch, and the accusations leveled against Baena are serious. Such violations are taken seriously by football governing bodies and could lead to disciplinary action. On the other hand, an assault is a serious criminal offense that could have consequences for the accused player, Valverde.

In the absence of concrete evidence, it is difficult to say with certainty what transpired, but it is important for the allegations to be thoroughly investigated to avoid similar incidences in the future. Ultimately, it is in the best interest of everyone involved to allow justice to play out, and for the truth to be revealed.[/expander_maker]