"Julian Alvarez's phone kept ringing, every day. It was Rodrigo de Paul, then Antoine Griezmann, then Giuliano Simeone, the Atletico Madrid's manager's son. And behind every call, pulling the strings, was Diego Simeone himself, firing messages into Alvarez's phone during the Copa America and the Paris Olympics of the summer of 2024."
"Alvarez grew up in Calchin, a town of 3,000 people in the province of Cordoba, Argentina. His brother Rafael started calling him 'La Aranita' - the Little Spider. When he played on the neighbourhood pitch, no-one could get the ball off him."
"At 15, a River Plate scout named Juanjo Borrelli needed only one training session to decide that this kid from a tiny Cordoban town had to come to Buenos Aires. Borrelli told him he would start on the bench but he did not stay there for long."
"River Plate made Alvarez. In one extraordinary Copa Libertadores performance against Alianza Lima, he scored six goals in a 8-1 win, which announced him to the world."
Julian Alvarez faced persistent recruitment calls from Diego Simeone and his associates during major tournaments. Despite lucrative offers from Paris St-Germain, he opted for Atletico Madrid. Growing up in Calchin, Argentina, Alvarez earned the nickname 'La Aranita' for his exceptional skills. His early career included a pivotal trial with Real Madrid, but he returned home, which he views as a significant decision. A scout from River Plate recognized his talent, leading to a standout performance in the Copa Libertadores that showcased his competitive nature.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]