Julian Alvarez on Ballon d'Or: “I don't need praise to be happy”

Julian Alvarez is the attacking leader of Atletico Madrid and perhaps the most important player in Simeone’s team. The Argentine has the opposition goal in his sights, which has led him to score nine goals this season between LaLiga and the Champions League, seven of them in the domestic championship, which places him second in the race for the Pichichi trophy.

In an extensive interview with L’Equipe, Julian Alvarez reviews his entire career as a player from the moment he left his native Argentina, through England and until he arrived at Atletico, where he has established himself as one of the world’s top strikers.As a child he tried out for Real Madrid, but says it was not the right time to make the leap to Europe: “I had the opportunity to come to Madrid when I was 11 years old. My father accompanied me to Spain for about 20 days. I trained with Real Madrid and then played in a tournament in Peralada, which we won. But to stay, my whole family would have had to come and live with me. It was a great experience, but it was still too early for me”.

When I was 11 years old I trained with Real Madrid (…) But to stay, my whole family would have had to come and live with me

Julián Álvarez, forward for Atlético Madrid

In modern football, where physicality is so important, it is rare for the center forward of one of Europe’s top teams to be 1.70 meters tall. Julian knows this, and since he was a child he has had to overcome these prejudices wherever he has gone: “I remember very well my first trial at River Plate. They asked me my year of birth and my position. I replied: ‘2000, number 9’. They said to me: ‘Number 9? It’s the number 9 of your category!’, and they pointed to a huge guy. But I wasn’t worried at all, because I knew my strengths. I could play as a number 9, a little bit further back, on the right, on the left, and adapt. It was never a problem.”

Not only because of his height is he a ‘rare guy’ in today’s football. Locker rooms are full of tattoos, arms full of drawings, backs that don’t see a piece of skin without ink, legs completely decorated… But Julian is made of different stuff: “The other day, in the national team camp, someone commented to me that I was the only player without tattoos. I don’t do it to be different. As a child, my father used to say to us: ‘No tattoos, no cigarettes, no alcohol’. As adults, everyone makes their own decisions, but I don’t feel the need to have tattoos. The truth is that I’m quite calm and I enjoy spending time at home with my loved ones. That’s where I feel happiest.”

When I was little, my father used to say, ‘No tattoos, no cigarettes, no alcohol’

Julián Álvarez, forward for Atlético Madrid

In two seasons with Manchester City, he scored 36 goals in 6,007 minutes, but perhaps Haaland’s presence overshadowed him and he was not as prominent as he would have liked. “I had quite a lot of playing time, although not always in the decisive matches. I often came on as a substitute.” This last reflection is what made him come to Spain: “I received calls from several clubs. I chose to come to Atletico because I felt I could earn a place here and give my best, thanks to the space they offered me.”

The name of Julian Alvarez is recurrent in the markets. He is rumored to be a target for Barcelona as a replacement for Lewandowski, as he once was for PSG. Julian is focused on red… and white. “Frankly, I don’t know. I see what is said on social networks… In Spain there is a lot of talk about me and Barcelona. When I signed for Atletico last year, there was also a lot of talk about Paris. It is true that there were conversations between the PSG board and my agent; they showed interest in signing me, but it did not materialize. For the moment, I am focused on Atletico. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” he admits.

In Spain, there is a lot of talk about me and Barcelona. When I signed for Atletico last year, there was also a lot of talk about Paris

Julián Álvarez, forward for Atlético Madrid

His numbers in recent seasons have placed him among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or, although never as a favorite. In 2023 he finished seventh in this award, but he has not been among the 30 nominees for two seasons. He is not losing sleep over it: “Obviously, it is an honor to be among the 30 best players in the world and to attend such an important event. It means that you are doing things well. I am proud of it, but I am not worried about not being among the 30 nominees; I am doing what I am passionate about. I don’t need praise to be happy. Playing football is enough for me”.

His good performance is also based on the confidence that his coach, Cholo Simeone, gives him on the pitch. “We share the same vision of football: passion, hard work, dedication, that desire to fight against two great clubs, to never give up, to always believe. On the pitch, he trusts me and gives me total freedom: our relationship is very positive,” he says.