Football

Simeone: "Álvarez can write a story here at Atletico"

Simeone: "Álvarez can write a story here at Atletico"
Photo: Panoramic/Keystone Press Agency

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone believes that the team's striker Julian Álvarez can become an important player in the history of the Madrid club.

“Julián Álvarez is one of the players who has made me the happiest since his arrival at the club.

The expectation he generated for me was high because, despite his youth, he has already won the Copa Libertadores, the World Cup, and the Champions League. He stepped in for Lautaro Martínez when the Argentine national team needed him at that time. 

When we had the chance to bring him in, we all did great work to sign him and make him understand that this isn’t just a step in his career. He brings energy, football, hard work, and humility. We’re looking forward to helping him, along with his teammates, so he can achieve all that he’s capable of. There’s a story he can write here at the club.

In the Libertadores, he played as a number 9 for River, and he did so for the national team too, and he can do it here as well. But he’s not a typical reference point like Lautaro or Sorloth… He has movements that make him hard to mark, he has a great shot with both his right and left foot, good diagonal runs, great timing, and he can also play further from the goal because he’s committed to the team. We saw that at Manchester City. 

I watched so many of his games in different positions, like what happened with Argentina against Ecuador. I think his best potential is behind the main striker, playing freely, working in a team that controls possession more than the opponent. The other day, in the derby against Real Madrid, he started on the left, and I told him it was a different game because of the opponent’s characteristics, but he’s not there to do that every match.

He feels more comfortable in the center, participating more in the play, but I have to find a place for all the players we have," ESPN Argentina quotes Simeone as saying.

Atletico Madrid acquired Julian Alvarez from Manchester City last summer for 75+20 million euros. This season, the 24-year-old forward has scored three goals in 11 matches for the Colchoneros.

The Argentine's contract with the Madrid club runs until the summer of 2030. The Transfermarkt portal estimates the player at 90 million euros.