Barcelona great reveals on Julián Álvarez move: «They're very close» | OneFootball

Patrick Kluivert added fuel to the fire. The legendary former Barcelona and Netherlands striker chose Julián Álvarez as the best number nine in modern football and, in the same breath, confirmed what many had suspected: “I think they are quite close. Quite close,” he said in an interview with the Let’s Talk channel, referring to a possible move for La Araña to Barça. His words came at the worst possible time for Atlético Madrid, which has just seen Enrique Cerezo step in to shield his star with a message that left no room for interpretation.

The question that prompted Kluivert’s statement was simple: who would he choose for his position in modern football? The answer was direct: “I like Julián Álvarez.” And when he was asked whether he would take him to Barcelona, the Dutchman did not hesitate: “Maybe I would take him, possibly. I think they are quite close.”

The praise did not stop at the rumors. The legend also sent a direct message to Julián himself about what would await him at Barça: “If he goes to Barça, he has a very clear path. He is going to play with many great players around him to achieve even more than what he is achieving today with Atlético Madrid. Because Barça is Barça.”

Kluivert’s words come at a moment of maximum tension between the two clubs. Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético Madrid, has spent weeks shutting down any rumors about Julián’s departure. In an impromptu press conference on the streets of Barcelona, ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, he was emphatic: “Until I tell him to leave, Julián Álvarez is not going anywhere.”

The executive was even more graphic when asked if he could guarantee that the Argentine would remain at the club next season: “Can you guarantee that you’re not going to die before the end of the year?” And he closed with a phrase that sums up his stance: “I’m telling you: he has a contract with Atlético Madrid. I am God, and until I tell him to leave, he will not leave.” The war of words between the two clubs is now in full swing, and Julián Álvarez, for the time being, remains a rojiblanco.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.