Julián Álvarez and the Memory That Reopened a Story Few Knew About

The career of Julián Álvarez is full of unexpected turns, but few as striking as the one he recently revisited: his trial with Real Madrid when he was only 11 years old. Although he now shines as a star for Atlético de Madrid, the Argentine revealed that his first major contact with Spanish football happened wearing white, an experience he described as “beautiful” and one that, in many ways, never truly left him.

During a conversation with José Ramón de la Morena, the forward reflected on his present, his development in Europe, and that month he spent in Madrid, a life-changing adventure that took him from his small hometown to an entirely new world.

A Month in Valdebebas: The Tournament, Barça, and the Kid Who Dreamed of Europe

Álvarez recalled in detail what that stay in the Spanish capital was like. “I had the chance to come for a few days and do a trial with Madrid… I spent a month there, played a youth tournament, and even faced Barcelona in the semifinals,” he said. La Araña not only left a good impression on the pitch, he also lived moments that would stay with him forever: it was the first time his father had ever boarded a plane and the first time Julián felt he could compete away from Argentina.

He also took advantage of his visit to watch a Champions League semifinal between Real Madrid and Barcelona live, a memory that now feels symbolic considering the player he would become. For young Julián, that night was a glimpse of the kind of footballer he aspired to be: someone capable of shining on the biggest stages.

The Signing That Never Happened… and the Destiny That Led Him to Atlético

Although the trial left positive impressions, family circumstances outweighed talent. The difficulties of relocating to Spain made a deal with Real Madrid impossible, and Álvarez eventually returned to Argentina, unaware that this chapter would continue to follow him years later.

La Araña rose through River Plate, exploded into global recognition at Manchester City, and, already a champion of America and the world, landed at the club that believed in him the most: Atlético de Madrid. Today, he is a key figure for Simeone and one of the most complete forwards in world football.

Between Barcelona and Madrid: An Old Story Brought Back to Life

The memory of that kid who once faced Barça wearing Madrid’s shirt resurfaced because the Catalan club has been tracking him for quite some time. Joan Laporta sees him as the ideal striker to rebuild Barcelona’s attack, while Real Madrid fans and analysts lament that such talent slipped away when he was just a child.

Even though Álvarez insists he is “very happy at Atlético,” his white past and his lifelong affection for Barça have sparked renewed debate: could La Araña cross paths again with one of the giants that shaped his childhood?

For now, the only certainty is that that month in Valdebebas was much more than a memory, it was the first chapter of a story that continues to unfold.