Julián Alvarez’s stellar performance for Atlético Madrid in their 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in September highlighted his importance to the team. The 25-year-old scored twice as Atlético put their local
rivals in the shade. The striker’s display inevitably triggered renewed talk about what the future holds for him.
Paris Saint-Germain has been touted as a potential destination for a player who has enhanced his reputation since leaving Manchester City in 2024. Barcelona are also reportedly interested in signing Alvarez, although it is unclear how they would fund a move given their precarious financial situation.
After scoring one and setting up two in Atlético’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League earlier this month, Alvarez shut down the transfer speculation in comments that are important to remember in light of Tuesday’s heavy 4-0 loss to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.
“Look, I’m very calm about it all,” Alvarez told ESPN at the time. “People always talk. Last year, there was a lot of talk as well. But the season is just starting and my focus is on getting better every day, doing my best for the club, helping my teammates and winning here. That’s all I’m thinking about. What people say on social media is irrelevant.”
Atlético have plenty of previous form when it comes to speculation surrounding the futures of star players. Antoine Griezmann and João Félix immediately spring to mind. Their experiences after leaving the club should serve as a warning to Alvarez. In simple terms, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Griezmann was a standout performer for Atlético before securing a big-money move to Barcelona in 2019. The Frenchman failed to make his mark with the Catalan giants. He was the ‘go-to’ man in Madrid – the player who everything went through. By contrast, he was played out of position at Barcelona as they struggled to shoehorn their big names into the team.
Griezmann eventually showcased his ability when moved to a more favourable position, but a tally of just one Copa del Rey success was a poor return on Barcelona’s investment. He returned on loan two years later.
João Félix has also struggled after leaving Atlético, ploughing through a series of underwhelming loan moves before heading to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
While assuming that Alvarez would fail to live up to expectations elsewhere is undoubtedly dangerous, it would also be foolish to rule out the possibility. Barcelona president Joan Laporta reportedly views Alvarez as the ideal long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, but in typical Laporta fashion, he has not explained how his club could afford to buy him. If the Catalans somehow facilitated a transfer, Alvarez would become just another cog in an expensively assembled wheel rather than the main man.
PSG would be a more suitable landing spot for the Argentinian. They dominate Ligue 1 and have demonstrated that they can win the Champions League. However, they are another club packed with superstar talents, and this is a factor Alvarez must consider when he thinks about his future.
The biggest issue surrounding Alvarez’s future is Atlético’s position in La Liga. In simple terms, competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona is hugely challenging. The club’s tally of 11 league titles shows that they are capable of breaking the big two’s stranglehold; they demonstrated it was possible as recently as the 2020/21 season.
Alvarez must weigh the merits of helping Atlético claim their 12th Spanish title against regularly challenging for silverware elsewhere. Joining Barcelona would improve his chances of winning a league title, yet would that success be as meaningful as achieving it with Atlético? PSG can offer Alvarez the chance to regularly win silverware in France, but the lack of domestic competition takes the gloss of their successes — though the Ligue 1 giants will point to their Champions League victory in 2024/25 as evidence of why they are a more attractive proposition than Atlético.
However, it is worth noting that Atletico have appeared in more finals than PSG in that competition. The Spanish club are capable of competing in the Champions League.
While Alvarez’s comments after the Frankfurt fixture indicated that he is happy in Madrid, the landscape can change rapidly in elite level football. A move to Barcelona seems unlikely given their financial situation, but PSG have the resources to test Atlético’s resolve next summer. Alvarez, clearly, will have the final say on where his future lies.
Footballers love to be loved. Alvarez is the headline act at Atlético, and he should not give up that status easily. Griezmann and João Félix are excellent examples of how things can go wrong.
Alvarez has the chance to earn legendary status if he sticks with Atlético and helps them win the La Liga title, or even the Champions League. That would mean more than anything he could achieve elsewhere.
