Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has revealed talks he recently held with FC Barcelona target Julian Alvarez in the United States.
“Julian’s future now is only Argentina’s match with Cape Verde. You should focus on that and not think about other things so that they don’t cause confusion,” Simeone stressed.
“It’s hard because there’s a lot going on out there, but you shouldn’t think about it. And what is clear to me is that things are going to be resolved as everything in life is always resolved.”
Simeone didn’t head to Argentina’s World Cup camp to talk to Alvarez specifically, and instead wished to touch bases with his son Giuliano, who is also representing the defending champions at the FIFA spectacle.
“I came to the training camp to see Giuliano and I had the opportunity to talk to Julian for a while. I asked him about his current moment and how he was doing with his ankle. And of the importance he has for Argentina. He told me that he was already very well, one hundred percent. In the last game he was not as successful as he usually is, but he has recovered a lot of match rhythm and already has another intensity.”
Simeone highly rates FC Barcelona target Alvarez
Simeone called Alvarez an “an extraordinary player” and “the best player we have at Atletico”.
“The numbers speak for themselves and are extraordinary. He had very good continuity and has generated things within the team that show that he is a different footballer. We are very happy with him and his performance.”
“Julian has always behaved well as a person and as a professional. I can’t say anything more,” Simeone went on.
“He’s always worked for the team and hopefully he can show his quality in the national team. He gave Atletico an offensive hierarchy that nowadays is very difficult to find in any player. His work as a second striker is spectacular and he made a great partnership with [Antoine] Griemzann.
“The same happens with [Lionel] Messi, because he has played with him a lot. Football is a matter of partnerships. We are very happy with everything he gives us because he is a great footballer.”
Simeone only smiled, and didn’t commit to commenting when asked about Alvarez’s links to FC Barcelona. Alvarez is reported as having accepted a five-year contract offer from the Catalans, but they can’t afford his price tag which has been raised to a $171 million (€150 million) bid by Real Madrid.
As Simeone said, everything is “going to be resolved” this summer. We’ll see if that ends with Alvarez fulfilling a “dream” by wearing Barcelona’s iconic number 9 jersey left vacant by Robert Lewandowski.