Julian Alvarez speaks as Atletico Madrid player – ‘I’ve a good relationship with the Simeone family’ | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid’s marquee signing Julian Alvarez has spoken to the club media for the first time as a Colchonero, having signed his contract and had the move confirmed on Monday. Alvarez became the second-most expensive player in Atletico history.

Only Joao Felix’s €127m move in 2019 eclipses the €70m fee for Alvarez, with Manchester City due another €25m depending on what objectives are met. The total fee could be as high as €95m. Alvarez was delighted to be at the club.

“Very happy, very excited to be here, how they have welcomed me in the city, in the club, so very happy and with very high expectations,” he noted on the welcome he had received.

“From the first moment, many messages, many things from the fans, as I said, as soon as I arrived at the airport, people were welcoming me, in the offices too… Here outside the stadium as well. So well, it’s very nice for a good start. Then it’s my turn to show it on the pitch.”

He was also asked about his nickname, the spider, or Arana in Spanish. It comes from his childhood.

“The Spider comes from a very young age, when I was 3-4 years old playing with my brothers and some friends. From one day to the next they started calling me that and all the people in the town always called me Spider. It was very normal for me because maybe they called me Julian and I didn’t even think about it so, now my nickname has remained forever since I was very young so we continue with that.”

Star forward Antoine Griezmann could well be replaced by Alvarez in the long term as their star in attack, but it was the Frenchman who made an effort to get him to Madrid, as well as Giuliano Simeone, who he will share a dressing room with this season.

“Antoine and Giuliano were the ones who sent me the most messages almost every day. Rodri de Paul too. I also spoke with Nahuel. So they were very attentive.”

The youngest of Diego Simeone’s is the third he has shared a dressing room with, after Gianluca and Giovanni.

“With the entire Simeone family, as I said, with Gianluca I shared time in the River reserves, with Gio in the national team and now in the Olympic Games with Giuli, Cholo also told me there you had little Cholo, now I am with the biggest Cholo. I always had a good relationship with them, so let’s hope good things come.”

Alvarez could make his first appearance for Atletico on Monday night, as Los Rojiblancos take on Villarreal in their La Liga opener. It is believed Cholo Simeone will eventually line up Alvarez alongside Griezmann, in behind Alexander Sorloth up front.