Alex Baena praises Julian Alvarez but avoids Barcelona transfer speculation: ‘This isn’t the time to talk’ | OneFootball

Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez remains one of the biggest talking points of the transfer window, and the Argentine forward has now received glowing praise from his Atletico Madrid teammate Alex Baena.

The Barcelona striker target has been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou in recent weeks, with reports suggesting the Catalan side remain committed to securing his signature despite the challenges involved in negotiating with Atletico Madrid.

Amid continued speculation surrounding the Julian Alvarez transfer, Baena has explained why the Argentine is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Baena explains why Alvarez is admired

Barcelona’s interest in Julian Alvarez is hardly surprising given the qualities the 26-year-old has demonstrated over the last two seasons.

Speaking about his teammate, Baena outlined the attributes that have made the Argentine one of the most highly-rated forwards in world football.

Baena has nothing but praise for Julian Alvarez. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

“He’s shown over the last two years at Atleti – and also for the national team – just what a great striker he is. 

“He has a brilliant understanding of the game, he’s a natural goalscorer, he’s spectacular from set pieces and he links up very well with his teammates. 

“For me, he’s one of the best strikers in the world,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

Baena avoids discussing Alvarez’s future

While Baena was happy to praise the striker’s qualities, he was far more cautious when questioned about Alvarez’s recent comments regarding his future.

The Argentine recently admitted that leaving Atletico Madrid could be the best solution for his career, a statement that intensified speculation surrounding a potential move.

Alvarez has asked to leave Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

However, Baena preferred not to fuel further debate about the situation.

“This isn’t the time to be talking about it. Not about the national teams when we’re with our clubs, nor about our clubs when we’re with the national team,” he noted.

Notably, the Barcelona transfer news has consistently pointed towards Julian Alvarez as the club’s preferred option to strengthen the attack.

However, negotiations remain complicated and Atletico Madrid are unlikely to make things easy for the Blaugrana.