Julián Álvarez, today one of the figures of the Manchester City, answered if you would like face River Plate At the Club World Cup, he told what it was like to share the National Team with his childhood idol, Lionel MessiIn addition, the ambitions of his club and the relationship with Pep Guardiola y Erling Haaland.
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In an extensive interview with Goal.com, The striker, scorer of two goals in the final of the last Club World Cup, was consulted regarding that double and recalled his previous experience, when he was still wearing the Argentine giant’s shirt: “We mightn’t win in 2018, so I saw it as a chance for revenge and a title that City did not have. Doing it in the final, helping the team with two goals was beautiful, something we will never forget and something historic for the club.”
But in 2025, the FIFA champions competition will change format, to 32 teams, and Manchester City is already one of those qualified for that edition, in which There is a chance to cross paths with his former club, River Plate.
“Obviously,” said Julián regarding his desire to meet the Millionaire at the World Cup and explained: “As a fan I wish River the best and I always hope he does well, so it would be great for us to be there too.”
Lionel Messi, from idol to teammate
The City forward always said that Messi was the idol of his childhood and he fulfilled his dream, not only of meeting him, but also of playing and lifting the World Cup with him.
Álvarez had his first meeting with Leo, as a Sparring Partner for the Senior National Team, prior to Russia 2018. “When I was a child he was my idol and I remember him in training, first in sparring with the senior team, I asked him for a photo, and Then when I went to the senior team I got another point of view.”
Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez were two great protagonists of Argentina in the AP World Cup
“It’s something crazy but also very cute and I try to enjoy every moment playing with it. “I am very proud of everything we have achieved with the national team in this time and what he achieved following searching for it for so long.”
Looking to the future, he assured that they will go for more successes: “Obviously we are going to try and do it once more.” and trusts that Messi will continue leading the Albiceleste team until the 2026 World Cup: “It will depend on him, but I think that if he wants he can do it comfortably”
“We all want him to continue too.”
The City of “Argentine tradition”
With his arrival at City in 2022 for 14 million euros, Álvarez joined the list of Argentines who wore the light blue shirt as Carlos Tevez, Pablo Zabaleta, Martín Demichelis and Sergio Agüerothe club’s all-time top scorer, among others.
As a result of this, the Spider acknowledged regarding his move: “There have been many players who have succeeded here and have done very important things here, so being in Argentina and seeing everything that City has been doing, I saw them as one of the best clubs in the world in recent years”
“So when I found out they were interested in me, I never hesitated. I think it was a good decision.”
City goes for everything, once more
After the historic treble, the team led by Pep Guardiola is still in the race for the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League and Julián does not doubt that they can fight for all the titles. “In the last months of the season we are fighting for all the competitions, we are doing well as a group and I think we can do it.”
And he clarified that his feeling is not only because of Pep Guardiola’s demand: “It’s not just him and his demands, it’s a bit of us too. We are very competitive and we always want to go for more and that is what we will do this season, try Do it once more”.
His relationship with Guardiola
Guardiola always valued Julián AP’s versatility and patience
Álvarez had to be a replacement piece in his first season at City, behind Erling Haaland, and his patience and dedication were key to his good relationship with the coach.
“Obviously I knew that it was my first season and that the team was doing very well, so I always try to take advantage of the minutes I have and that’s how it was, always waiting for my turn to help the team, and the relationship with Guardiola is good for that “, considered.
“Obviously, City is one of the best clubs in the world in recent years and Guardiola one of the best coaches. “I grew up watching Barça in the Messi era, when Pep was coach and I admired him a lot for everything he was.”.
“Having him as a coach is a privilege.”
In the shadow of Haaland
“I always say that playing with the best players makes you better. Erling is one of them. In the team there are many influential and top-level players who have been doing very good things for their clubs and their national teams for a long time, and playing with the best players helps you grow, so I am very proud and happy regarding that.”
“I think we have shown that together we can do very good things to help the teamit shows on the field, but the statistics also show it in terms of goals and assists,” he concluded.