Luis Suarez has told Julian Alvarez to think twice before forcing a move away from Atletico Madrid – drawing on his own decision to snub Arsenal and stay at Liverpool 13 years ago.
The Uruguayan, now at Inter Miami, gave the advice as Alvarez has informed the Spanish club he wants to leave, with Barcelona, Arsenal and Real Madrid all keen to sign the 26-year-old Argentina forward.
“Luis Suarez advises Julian Alvarez to delay leaving Atletico Madrid, recalling how Steven Gerrard convinced him to stay at Liverpool.”
Speaking on Cadena SER’s El Larguero programme, Suarez recalled how he had been pushing to join Arsenal in the summer of 2013 after the Gunners submitted an offer of £40m plus £1. Liverpool’s furious response was to insist the striker was not available at any price.
“I faced the same situation myself when I was at Liverpool,” Suarez said. “I said I wanted to go to Arsenal. I wanted to play in the Champions League. The captain, Gerrard, came to me and convinced me, ‘If you have a great season, we’ll help you and you’ll be able to go to Barcelona, Real Madrid, wherever you want.’”
Suarez stayed, produced the finest season of his career and then moved to Barcelona. “He convinced me, and I went out to apologise because my comments hadn’t been appropriate at the time. I gave my all for Liverpool, the fans forgave me, and it turned out to be my best season at Liverpool.”
He believes Alvarez, currently focused on Argentina’s World Cup last-32 tie against Cape Verde on Friday, could benefit from a similar delay. “Diego Simeone and the fans might convince him that this could be Atletico’s year. Or perhaps Julian will stand his ground and say, ‘That’s it.’ That depends on each person.”
Suarez was effusive in his praise for Alvarez’s qualities. “Barcelona and any team in the world will want him and will be willing to pay whatever it takes because he’s a great target man. He moves well between the centre-backs. He helps out a lot defensively, and he’ll have wingers who’ll provide him with plenty of assists. He’s a fast, powerful player.”
Whether Alvarez heeds the advice or pushes for an exit now, the decision will define the next chapter of a career that already includes a World Cup winners’ medal.