​Julian Alvarez’s future continues to dominate headlines in Spain, with ongoing speculation about the Argentina international showing little sign of slowing down. Despite Atletico Madrid’s firm stance that the striker is not for sale, persistent links with Barcelona have kept the story alive throughout the summer. Former Atletico forward Sergio Aguero believes the current situation bears striking similarities to what he experienced during his own time in Madrid. Fifteen years after his controversial departure, the Argentine sees familiar patterns in how Alvarez’s future has unfolded, especially after the striker openly admitted he desires a change this summer. While Atletico remains determined to block a move to a direct La Liga rival, Aguero feels the player’s happiness will ultimately be the deciding factor in how the situation develops.
Before becoming a Manchester City legend, Aguero was one of Atletico Madrid’s brightest stars. During his final months at the club, he had hoped to join Real Madrid, but the move never materialized as Atletico chose to negotiate with Manchester City instead. Barcelona’s ongoing efforts to sign Julian Alvarez continue to be reported. Looking back at that period, Aguero believes Alvarez has shown similar honesty by publicly expressing his feelings. Speaking to Onda Cero (as reported by Mundo Deportivo), the former Argentina striker said, “Julian Alvarez was very honest, and perhaps that upsets people—it happened to me at Atleti.” While Aguero understands why the comments have sparked debate, he is not convinced a transfer is the only possible outcome. “Of course I think he can stay at Atleti; things can be sorted out with a chat, but we also have to see how he’s feeling.”
For now, Atletico Madrid’s position has not changed, as club officials remain adamant that Alvarez is a central part of Diego Simeone’s project and have no intention of negotiating with Barcelona. That stance effectively freezes discussions despite ongoing reports linking the striker with a move to Camp Nou. The club has also safeguarded itself contractually by including a €500 million release clause, clearly signaling that they do not intend to entertain offers.
Notably, this is not the first time Aguero has publicly commented on Alvarez’s future. In previous interviews, the former striker argued that clubs should seriously consider a player’s mental state when making transfer decisions. Explaining his view, Aguero said, “You’re not going to have a player looking glum and in a bad mood all year round. If he’s not comfortable, the club has to help him. To me, that’s how it works. When a player isn’t happy, each club takes the stance it needs to support him.”