Julián Álvarez has joined Atlético Madrid from Manchester City in a deal worth up to €95m, and the forward has revealed how manager Diego Simeone convinced him to make the switch to the Spanish capital.
The Argentine landed in Madrid on Sunday to put pen to paper on a deal which commits him to the club until 2030. In one of the most exciting transfer deals in the club’s history, Álvarez has revealed how persistent calls from Simeone and several of his new teammates played a significant role in the former City man accepting this challenge.
He said: “Antoine (Griezmann) and Guiliano (Simeone) sent me messages almost every day. Rodri De Paul, Nahuel (Molina), they were very attentive.”
As reported by Relevo, Simeone called the young attacker up to five times to convince him to join his project. In the last conversation between between the pair, ‘Cholo’ showed his faith in the 24-year-old by suggesting that if he puts his mind to it, Álvarez could become the top scorer in La Liga.
The two Argentines have a very good relationship, with Álvarez having even shared a dressing room with the coach’s children whom he played alongside for River Plate and the Argentina national team. The striker also revealed one of the phrases Cholo said to him regarding their close relationship.
He added: “I shared a time with Gianluca in the River reserve. With Gio in the national team and now, in the Olympic Games, with Giuliano.
“Cholo told me there you had the little Cholo now I came with the biggest Cholo. I always had a good relationship, so let’s hope for good things to come.”
