Diego Simeone speaks out on Liverpool's Julian Alvarez RAID | OneFootball

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'How can everyone not want him!'

Speaking to La Nacion, he said: "Everything is logical, I can't imagine any other scenario: Julian [Alvarez] is 25 years old, he's an extraordinary player, with hunger, with enthusiasm, with humility, with work, with goals, with hierarchy... How could everyone not want him?

"And Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool... the best have to want him. And for us, Atletico fans, it should be a source of pride that everyone wants him. Why? Because he's ours. And since he's ours, we have to take care of him. We have to help him feel happy. How will he be happy? By winning.

"And to get there, we all have to give 110%. And not just for him, of course, but for everyone."

If there was every a rallying cry to the fans, denouncing rival club's attempts to sign Alvarez, then that was it - a firm and direct reminder that he is a player Atletico are unwilling to sell this summer.

And in fairness, it makes a hell of a lot of sense. The Argentinian is approaching the prime of his career, he only made the move from Manchester City last season and he's made 36 goals and assists in 54 games of his maiden season in Spain - if they can help it, he's not going anywhere.