Former Barcelona star Joao Felix has defended Julian Alvarez amid an ongoing transfer saga that the Blaugrana find themselves at the centre of.
Alvarez surprised everyone after coming out after Argentina's second World Cup game and making it clear that he wants an Atletico Madrid exit following talks with the club.
Alvarez says he wants to leave to achieve his 'dream', although he didn't specify what that was. Barcelona were said to have been flirting with a move for Alvarez, and it follows Real Madrid trying their luck with Alvarez earlier in the window.
Atletico Madrid chief Miguel Angel Gil took aim at Barca over the situation, accusing them of trying to unsettle Alvarez, claiming the Blaugrana could not afford a deal in any case. But Alvarez does seem to want out, and he has - perhaps understandably - come under criticism for making such a bold transfer statement during a World Cup, when he is supposed to be concentrating on national team matters.
Felix defends Alvarez
Speaking after Portugal's World Cup win this week, Joao Felix, who is a former Barca and Atletico player, having a foot in both camps, addressed the situation.
He said: "He (Alvarez) will have his reasons to speak about that. I don't want to tell you much, because I don't want to involve myself in that, either.
"These things happen on the inside that only he knows and people on the outside don't." Asked what he wants for Alvarez, the forward added: "That he is happy and does what is best for him."
Alvarez now faces a tricky situation having asked to leave Atletico, given he has a giant release clause, and even if Atletico do not ask for the full value of it, it's likely they will demand €150million or so.
Alvarez has been a consistent performer for Atleti and has been their standout players in the last couple of years. They will demand a premium to sell, and they may not sell to another LaLiga club at all, as their CEO has pointed out.
The Premier League and a return to England is likely Alvarez's only other option, with PSG unlikely to move for him, and they are the only other team with the money to pull off such a deal.
Arsenal have previously been linked, and their sporting director Andrea Berta signed Alvarez for Atletico during his time there, but whether they will spend quite so much on one player this summer is another question.
Barca's hopes, for what it is worth, seem slim, both for financial reasons and reasons related to this bust-up with Atletico.
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