A call from a legend! Griezmann reportedly warns Álvarez not to repeat his Barcelona mistake
The man who lived the Barcelona nightmare has personally tried to stop Julián Álvarez from living it too.
Details: According to reports circulating online, Antoine Griezmann has called Julián Álvarez with a warning, advising the Argentine not to repeat the mistake he made years ago when he pushed for a move from Atlético Madrid to Barcelona. The Frenchman's message was reportedly clear: stay, apologize to the team, and you can become an Atlético legend one day. Álvarez's response was short: thank you, but Barcelona is my dream.
It's worth stressing that no major outlet has confirmed the call itself, but the story resonates because it mirrors reality: Atlético's leadership has repeatedly used Griezmann as the example for Álvarez. CEO Gil Marín cited the Frenchman's failed move to Catalonia as a warning, while Simeone publicly recalled how Griezmann left, returned, apologized and won the fans back to depart as a club legend last season.
Griezmann's own words leave little doubt about his regret: at his emotional farewell in May he told the Metropolitano that leaving for Barcelona in 2019 was a mistake and asked for forgiveness once again. It's worth noting that the 35-year-old now plays for Orlando City in MLS, while Álvarez, who joined Atlético for €95 million in 2024, remains determined to force his dream move.
Reminder: Full stop in the summer's main saga! Simeone delivers final verdict on the future of Atlético's star forward.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
