Julián Alvarez’s “come and get me” plea to FC Barcelona has backfired.
During an assembly at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday, Barcelona president Joan Laporta was careful and measured as he responded to a query about his club’s ongoing campaign to bring Alvarez to Catalonia from Madrid. Knowing that Atlético de Madrid had just filed a complaint to FIFA and RFEF about Barcelona’s pursuit of the player, Laporta was about as polite — and as deferential — as we’ve ever seen him.
“I have a lot of respect
for Atlético de Madrid. They received our offer for Alvarez, and they told us that they have no plans to sell him because they have no replacement. I told them that if they found a replacement, our offer would still be there. We will keep that offer intact for long as we can, but we will not be at the mercy of what Atlético decides on this matter. They know our intentions, and if they wish to proceed, we would be delighted. They have our utmost respect, and (with Enrique Cerezo and Miguel Ángel Gil) we have a good relationship, both professionally and personally,” Laporta said.
That offer — €100 million payable over six financial years — was already publicly rejected on May 29. Nonetheless, Barcelona will persist with its pressure campaign until the end of the FIFA World Cup, when Alvarez either will try to force his move or will have to accept another six months (at least) at Atlético.
Preseason training begins in 10 days — and though Alvarez wouldn’t be due back at Majadahonda until the end of the month, Diego Simeone is handing his star forward an olive branch as his Barça dream stalls out.
“I just ran into Julián on my way to spend a bit of time with Giuliano,” El Cholo told ESPN Argentina on Thursday before the world champions face Cabo Verde in the round of 32. “We chatted for a while, mostly about his current situation, how his ankle was holding up and the importance he has for the team. He told me he feels really good, that he was back to 100 percent.”
Then Simeone spoke directly. He said once more that La Araña is his foundational player, “one of the five best in the world”, and that Atlético will build around him again if he stays.
“He’s the best play we’ve had at Atlético since he arrived. He’s easily among the five best players in the world,” Simeone said. “Things will be resolved as they always have been in life.”
This is Simeone man management 101. El Cholo never has been one to criticize his players publicly, and doing so here would have tanked Alvarez’s value and played directly into Barcelona’s hands. If the situation had been beyond repair, Simeone would have said that he only wants players who want to stay. Instead, Simeone has talked up the player as one of the best in his position — which, when Alvarez is motivated and in form, he undoubtedly is. That is why Barcelona want him, and why PSG and Arsenal both have made an effort to sign him in the past 24 months.
What Simeone has done here is extended Alvarez an olive branch and gently suggested that he reconsider his future. Whether Alvarez accepts the invitation is not up to Laporta, and it’s not up to his agent Fernando Hidalgo. It’s up to Alvarez himself.
