{"id":13147,"date":"2025-11-08T16:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/08\/julian-alvarez-says-he-doesnt-need-praise-to-be-happy-after-winning-the-ballon-dor\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T16:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:31:08","slug":"julian-alvarez-says-he-doesnt-need-praise-to-be-happy-after-winning-the-ballon-dor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/08\/julian-alvarez-says-he-doesnt-need-praise-to-be-happy-after-winning-the-ballon-dor\/","title":{"rendered":"Julian Alvarez says he doesn’t need praise to be happy after winning the Ballon d’Or"},"content":{"rendered":"
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J<\/span>Ul\u00ed\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez is Atletico Madrid’s attacking leader and perhaps the most important player in Simeone’s team. The Argentine has his eyes on the opponent’s goal and as a result has scored nine goals between La Liga and the Champions League this season, seven of which have come in the national championship, leaving him second in the race for the Pichichi trophy.<\/p>\n
In a wide-ranging interview with L’Equipe, Julian Alvarez reflected on his entire playing career, from leaving his native Argentina to England and arriving at Atl\u00e9tico, where he established himself as one of the world’s top strikers. He tried out for Real Madrid as a child, but said it wasn’t the right time to make the leap to Europe, saying: “I had the opportunity to come to Madrid when I was 11 years old. My father accompanied me to Spain for about 20 days.” He trained with Real Madrid and then played in a tournament in Peralada, which he won. However, to remain, the entire family would have needed to come and live with them. It was a great experience, but it was too early for me. \u201d<\/p>\n
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Diego Simeone holds euphoric celebration after Atl\u00e9tico beat Real Madrid<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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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<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico Madrid forward Juli\u00e1n Alvarez<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In modern soccer, where physicality is very important, it is rare for a center forward in a top European team to be 1.70 meters tall. Julian knows this, and since childhood he has had to overcome these prejudices wherever he goes. \u201cI remember my first trial at River Plate very well. They asked me my year of birth and my position. I said: “2000, number 9”. They said: “Number 9? That’s your category of number 9!” and they pointed at the big guy. But I wasn’t worried at all because I knew my strengths. I could play as a number.” No. 9, a little further back, right, left, adapting to that was never a problem. \u201d<\/p>\n
It’s not just his height that makes him a ‘rare man’ in today’s football. His locker room is full of tattoos, his arms are covered in drawings, his back doesn’t show a single inch of skin without ink, his legs are fully decorated… But Julian is made of something else. “The other day, during a national team camp, someone commented to me that I was the only player without a tattoo. I don’t do it to be different. When I was a kid, my dad used to tell us: ‘No tattoos, no smoking, no drinking.’ When you grow up, everyone makes their own decisions. But I don’t feel the need to get a tattoo. I’m very calm and enjoy spending time with my loved ones at home.”<\/p>\n
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When I was young, my father would often tell me, “No tattoos, no smoking, no drinking.”<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico Madrid forward Juli\u00e1n Alvarez<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In two seasons at Manchester City, he scored 36 goals in 6,007 minutes, but was not as prominent as he would have liked, perhaps overshadowed by Haaland’s presence. “I didn’t always play in the decisive games, but I had quite a lot of playing time. I often came on as a substitute.” This final reflection led him to come to Spain. “I was approached by several clubs. I chose to come to Atl\u00e9tico because I felt that because of the space they offered me, I could earn my place here and do my best.”<\/p>\n
Julian Alvarez’s name is heard repeatedly on the market. It is rumored that he is being targeted at Barcelona as a replacement for Lewandowski, just as he was previously at PSG. Julian focuses on red and white. “Frankly, I don’t know. I see what is being said on social networks… In Spain there was a lot of talk about me and Barcelona. When I signed for Atl\u00e9tico last year, there was also a lot of talk about Paris.P It’s true that there were conversations between the SG board and my agent. They were interested in signing me, but it didn’t happen. For now, I’m focused on Atl\u00e9tico. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” he admitted.<\/p>\n
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In Spain, people talk about me and Barcelona a lot. When I signed with Atl\u00e9tico last year, there was a lot of talk about Paris.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico Madrid forward Juli\u00e1n Alvarez<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
His performances over the past few seasons have made him one of the candidates for the Ballon d’Or, but he is by no means the favorite. He finished seventh at the award in 2023, but has not been among the 30 nominees for the past two seasons. He doesn’t seem to be losing sleep over it. “Of course it’s an honor to be named among the 30 best players in the world and to be present at such an important event. It means you’re doing well. I’m proud of that, but I don’t mind not being among the 30 nominees. I’m doing what I’m passionate about. I don’t need praise to be happy. Just playing football is enough for me.”<\/p>\n
His good performances are also based on the confidence his coach Cholo Simeone has in him on the pitch. “We share the same vision for football: passion, hard work, dedication, the desire to compete against two great clubs, never giving up and always believing. On the pitch, he trusts me and gives me complete freedom. Our relationship is very positive,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n