Julián Álvarez, Simeone's Galáctico
Few expected Atlético Madrid to be as ambitious in the market this summer, and perhaps they've even surprised themselves.
Precisely when Atlético Madrid would strike out in the market again, it was difficult to predict. Even now, the João Félix saga that began in 2019 continues to loom over the club; its reminders never far away. In the time since, it had been logical for the club to lay low, digest the necessary lessons, and consider what it would look like the next time they did go big.
As you may have heard, that moment is now here. At roughly 95 million euros including add-ons, Julián Álvarez represents the second-biggest transfer outlay in the club’s history, and the biggest for any signing across Europe’s big five leagues this summer. From dormant to eruption, Atlético have returned to go very big indeed.
But why now, and why Álvarez?
Having followed on from the signings of Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sørloth (and later Conor Gallagher), the arrival of the Argentinean speaks to a club not aiming for a gradual arc of development back to trophy contention. Above all, none of us know how much longer Diego Simeone will be there. The quicker they can be competitive the better, and Julián Álvarez will aid that process as much as anyone.
However, as the unique individual in this summer’s transfer assault, Álvarez isn’t an injection of momentary stardust who’ll allow them to throw their weight around with renewed conviction, or the type of signing who puts them over the top and into a new tier of clubs overnight. Despite the mega fee, no title race has been blown open. The status quo hasn’t been shattered.
Five years on from the €126 million signing of João Félix, Atlético have returned to pay superstar money. But this time, for a superstar of sustainability.
“Some people are born with an innate talent that they show from a young age. Writers, painters, sculptors, sportsmen. The word that best describes João is ‘talent’. At 19, he has a great career ahead of him and we’re proud that he chose the Red & White colours. João, welcome to Atlético de Madrid.”
Enrique Cerezo in 2019
Of course, the idea is that Álvarez will score goals. His arrival on the scene in Argentinean football was channeled through precisely that, and he scored 36 times in two seasons at Manchester City, despite not always playing as a centre forward. When he does play there, Álvarez looks and moves like a natural no. 9.
If he plays sustained minutes at the head of this team, there seems little doubt that Álvarez will score a solid amount of goals. Will it be enough to unanimously validate the price paid for him? Probably not. Will 30+ goal seasons need to be the norm to satisfy the level of Atlético’s content? Also, probably not.
As for why Álvarez and why now, the answer lies in the guarantees that the Argentinean gives them, beyond whether he leaves the game with the match ball under his arm or not.
Where Atlético once put all of their chips in on João Félix and the intoxicating allure of talent, the club and Diego Simeone already know exactly who Julián Álvarez is. In the pursuit of making the most competitive team possible, they can build their identity without having to permit limitations with or without the ball from a star player.
For this manager, that counts a lot.
If Simeone wants to press high, Álvarez is willing and effective. If Simeone wants to sit in a deep block and defend a lead — as they did against Girona with only 34 percent of the ball in the second half — it’s the same case.
Álvarez had just 21 touches in 85 minutes on his first start, with the crux of his work coming without the ball. Hastling opposition passers, hardening Atlético’s defensive shape, and making dynamic movements when the team found transition moments was the role the game presented him. When the Argentinean doesn’t have his own day per se, he remains an essential part of the union.
“Julián gave us a lot of work for the collective, almost always occupied the right spaces so we could generate turnovers, helped us on the counter, participated in the second goal to generate the space…” Simeone later said.
That capacity for sacrifice runs through his game, reinforcing the collective, but doing so through a player who doesn’t substitute willingness for quality. And in the end, that is the calculation Atlético have made.
The list of players who have Álvarez’s pedigree, are attainable, and possesses the requisite mettle to thrive within this culture, isn’t very long. Indeed, in the years since Simeone’s Atlético first triumphed in LaLiga, we’ve seen many talented players arrive at the club and then swiftly collide with the reality of their environment. If the talent isn’t at the service of the team, or lacks the necessary intangibles to surround it, there will be no continuity.
Take Atletico Madrid’s season opener at Villarreal, for example. Following his some 32 million euro signing, new recruit Alexander Sørloth scored on his competitive debut for the club, and in turn levelled the game at 2-2 right on the stroke of half time. It was Sørloth’s 18th goal in La Liga this year, the most of any player. Simeone’s next decision was to make sure he didn’t come out for the second half.
“I felt that he hadn’t participated much in the play until the goal. I needed a player like Correa, who combines more,” Cholo later explained.
The reasoning may have come through lacking participation with the ball, but the message was rooted more generally in what his striker had done outside of scoring his goal. In the first game of the season, he was leaving no doubt about what’s expected. With heightened competition in the squad, well-rounded contributions are an absolute necessity for selection.
By the standards of Europe’s true elite, Julián Álvarez probably wouldn’t qualify for being a true attacking superstar, or comply with the tag of ‘galáctico’ as we’ve come to know it. In Atlético Madrid and Diego Simeone’s world, however, the 24-year-old is about as good as it gets.
In paying a substantial fee for Álvarez, Atlético are not just signing a skilled footballer of notable pedigree for today. They are reinforcing their culture, for today and tomorrow.
By Jamie Kemp (@jamiemkemp)