Steven Gerrard has admitted he is pleased that Julian Alvarez didn't join Arsenal last summer. The London club had their sights set on the Argentine attacker, but Alvarez himself was keen to pursue a path at Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid refused to let Alvarez go to the Catalan side, opting not to strengthen a direct rival in Spain. In an interview with TNT Sports, Gerrard backed Atletico's stance:
I understand his perspective, but Atletico don't want to bolster their competitors and become a supplier of players to teams they are fighting against in both the league and the Champions League. So, you can sympathise with the club's position.
I’m just happy he didn’t move to Arsenal. That’s all I’ll say on that!
The former Liverpool captain also believes that Alvarez can mend fences with Atletico fans, despite his public desire to switch to Barcelona:
I think he has the trust and support of his manager, and one goal along with a decent performance could change everything.
Yet, somewhere deep down, he might feel that his dream transfer opportunity has slipped away — possibly for good.
He is, however, a top footballer: very bright and dynamic. It's no wonder clubs from all over the world want him. He scores and knows how to create chances — I really enjoy watching him play.
