Rodri Wants Julián Álvarez at Barcelona

Rodri has not bothered to hide it. Now that he is in Barcelona, he wants Julián Álvarez with him at Camp Nou.

The Spain midfielder, who traded Manchester for Catalonia this summer, has gone public with his admiration for his former team-mate, convinced the Argentine would be a perfect fit for Barça’s evolving attack.

Álvarez spent the window at the heart of a tug of war across Europe. Barcelona and Real Madrid both explored a move, only to find Atlético Madrid unwilling to strengthen a direct rival in La Liga. Arsenal’s name also entered the conversation, but the Argentina international was not interested in a Premier League return.

Rodri knows exactly what those clubs were chasing. He shared a dressing room with Álvarez for two trophy-laden seasons in England, watching from close range as the forward’s influence grew. Asked by Mundo Deportivo whether he would like to see Barça move for the 26-year-old, the answer came without a pause.

“Would I sign him here? Of course,” Rodri said. “I think he is a sensational player. I would take him here without hesitation. I had the chance to play with him for two years, and I think he is an incredible player, truly incredible.”

The praise did not stop at goals and highlights. Rodri zeroed in on Álvarez’s brain.

Once seen as a classic No 9, Álvarez has quietly built a reputation as one of the most tactically flexible forwards in Europe. Coaches have pushed him across the front line and deeper into midfield, and he has rarely looked out of place.

“He has almost played more often as a number 10 than as a number 9, even though he initially came from a number 9 position,” Rodri explained. “But he has also adapted to a role where he can play as an attacking midfielder, a playmaker, and he has even played matches as a central midfielder. He is truly a spectacular player.”

For now, the speculation stops at the Atlético training ground gates. Álvarez remains locked in on Diego Simeone’s plans and has already featured twice in La Liga this season. Simeone will lean heavily on his movement and finishing as Atlético try to turn a strong squad into a sustained title push.

The noise around him, though, will not fade after an endorsement like this. Barcelona continue to scour the market for top-tier attacking options, balancing finances with ambition. If Álvarez maintains his trajectory under Simeone, the idea of him walking out at Camp Nou in Barça colours will move from fantasy to a very real dilemma for Atlético.